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Sacramento Public Library to discontinue Hoopla on May 5, shifts digital spending to Libby and Kanopy
Summary
The Sacramento Public Library Authority heard a plan to end its Hoopla subscription effective May 5 and reallocate digital funds toward Libby and other services; staff cited cost-per-checkout and board members raised concerns about audiobook availability.
The Sacramento Public Library Authority announced plans to discontinue its Hoopla digital service effective May 5 and redirect resources to the Libby platform and other providers, library staff said at the authority’s March 31 meeting.
Michelle Hartman, the library’s collection services manager, told the board that Hoopla’s model charges the library each time a title is checked out, while Libby uses a time-limited license model. Hartman said Hoopla accounted for less than 10% of the library’s digital circulation but consumed about 22% of the library’s digital spending, and that shifting funds to Libby will let the library buy more licenses and reduce hold times.
Hartman said patrons who have items checked out from Hoopla will retain access until the items’ normal due dates, but new Hoopla checkouts will cease on May 5. Hartman added that any additional services or music/streaming subscriptions would likely be introduced in the new fiscal year after reallocation of funds currently spent on Hoopla.
Some board members urged the library to prioritize audiobooks in the Libby purchases. Alternate Director Tanya Kravchuk and Director Nick Bloise relayed feedback from frequent users saying Hoopla offered a broader audiobook catalog — particularly for midlist and backlist titles — than Libby currently provides. Kravchuk said the authority should “bolster audiobooks” as Hoopla is phased out; Bloise repeated similar concerns on behalf of community members.
Hartman acknowledged gaps in availability for some audiobooks, noting that certain titles and formats are available only through proprietary vendors and can be costly for a public library to license. She said the library intends to broaden title selection and increase audiobook purchases when new fiscal-year funds are available.
The board was told some media currently accessed via Hoopla will remain available through other platforms the library already licenses: Kanopy for some films and Quello content (via Libby) for concert and performance videos. Staff said they are notifying active Hoopla users directly and will publicize alternatives to reduce confusion.
The discussion was informational; no formal board action was taken during the meeting.
