Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Digital Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Larkspur library faces ebook funding squeeze as board weighs cuts and donor options
Summary
Library staff told the advisory board that digital services — Libby (Marinet) and Hoopla — are widely used but strain the library's limited materials budget; the board discussed trimming Hoopla use, seeking targeted donor support, and asking the city for more funding while monitoring uncertain state grants.
Larkspur City library staff told the advisory board on Dec. 8 that the library's digital offerings are popular but increasingly expensive, leaving leaders to weigh cuts, donor appeals or increased municipal funding.
Damon, the library's librarian and presenter of the report, explained that the library participates in two main platforms: Libby (the OverDrive/Marinet consortium) and Hoopla (an instant-streaming service). "Libby is our big one," Damon said, noting that Libby checkouts totaled roughly 64,418 in the latest 12-month reporting period (July 1–June 30) for Larkspur patrons within Marinet. By contrast, Hoopla provides instant access but uses a per-item price model and a local cap: "The biggest limit is our budget is $450 a month," Damon said. Once the cap is reached, Hoopla is unavailable for the remainder of the month.
The discussion focused on how to reconcile heavy digital usage with constrained local budgets. Staff presented a Marinet spending target derived from consortium usage that would put Larkspur's additional annual spending (outside of the consortium dues) at about $15,643. "That's a target we agreed upon but it isn't mandatory," Damon said, cautioning that the city's per-capita funding level is lower than neighboring jurisdictions.
Board members raised equity and optics concerns. Several members warned that eliminating Hoopla would immediately affect a small but dedicated group of users, notably audiobook listeners and seniors who value instant access. "I hate to see usshutting them out," one member said. The group explored narrower alternatives: reducing per-patron Hoopla uses (other jurisdictions cap uses per month), asking the library foundation or Friends group to underwrite Hoopla for a year (the group discussed a "Hoopla genie" donor), or shifting some foundation funding from services such as Canopy to digital materials.
On the revenue side, staff noted uncertainty about federal and state grant support (IMLS funding routed through state and consortium channels); historically Larkspur received occasional supplemental funds but amounts vary year to year. Damon urged monitoring the grant pipeline before taking major cuts.
Board members discussed city-budget advocacy as a longer-term solution: "If that's what people are doing in this city and the way they use their library, then that should be the cost," one member said, noting the risk of a newly renovated building appearing fully modern while lacking some digital services.
The board did not take a formal vote to change services at the meeting. Members asked staff to return with usage data (who uses Hoopla, frequency and whether users are a small recurring group) and options for per-patron limits or targeted fundraising. The board also noted the need to consider trade-offs—newspaper subscriptions and other services were discussed as possible reallocation candidates.
What happens next: staff will gather metrics on Hoopla usage and patron counts, continue to track IMLS/state grant outcomes, and prepare budget options for the advisory board and the city council during the upcoming budget cycle.
