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Bentley Memorial Library director flags rising Hoopla costs and ebook pricing concerns
Summary
Director Liz Thornton told the board that Hoopla usage has increased and the March invoice was $1,021.54, creating budgeting pressure; she contrasted Hoopla's monthly billing with the annual Libby fee and said the state legislature is considering action on publisher pricing for library e-books.
Liz Thornton, Bentley Memorial Library director, told the board May 13 that usage of the digital-content service Hoopla has increased and that the March invoice was $1,021.54, raising concern about how to budget for the monthly service.
Thornton explained that Hoopla allows patrons to borrow audio books, music and television for immediate streaming or download and is billed monthly, while Libby is purchased annually as an add-on to the library's Bibliomation membership. "The March invoice was $1,021.54," Thornton said, noting that rising use makes monthly billing harder to project.
She also told trustees that publishers generally charge libraries more for e-books than they charge individual consumers and that the Connecticut Legislature is considering legislation intended to address that pricing disparity. Thornton described the issue as a statewide challenge affecting collection budgets.
Board members did not take a separate vote on service subscriptions at the meeting. The director's report noted the library will continue monitoring usage and budget impacts ahead of the July copier contract renewal and regular budget review.
