Hoopla Daily Spending Cap to Begin March 1, 2026

Posted on February 26, 2026

Starting March 1, 2026 we will be introducing a daily spending cap for Hoopla.

What This Means for You

The current patron limit of four checkouts per month will remain unchanged. 

• Each day, the library will have a fixed budget available to spend on Hoopla checkouts. 
• If the daily limit is reached, you will see a message indicating that no more items can be checked out that day. 
• You will be able to check out items again the following day. 

Why We’re Making This Change

Hoopla service charges the library per checkout, as usage has grown rapidly in recent years, increased use directly increases our costs. 

Since introducing Hoopla in October 2021: 

• Use grew by an average of 85% per year during the first two years. 
• In the most recent fiscal year, usage increased 52%. 
• Even with implementing this spending cap, Hoopla expenses are projected to exceed $30,000 for the year, exceeding our budgeted amount for this line by $9,000.

A Cost Comparison

In 2025, the most popular title checked out in Hoopla was Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. It was checked out 59 times for a total cost to PWPL of $176.41 for those transactions. Per checkout cost is $2.99/checkout.

A Libby copy of the same title costs $75.00 for a 5-year license. If this item was checked out each time it was returned during the course of the license period it would circulate ~80 times. Per checkout cost is approximately $0.94/checkout.

We own two copies of the CD Book of this same title. At the time of purchase these books cost the library $60 each. They have circulated 457 times over the course of their lives in our collection. The current per checkout cost is $0.26/checkout.

Libby!

Our most popular digital platform is Libby! We know that sometimes hold lists can be long with Libby, but consider putting titles on hold with Libby when you don’t have a strict timeline in mind. If you need help adding ‘Partner Libraries’ to your Libby account or seeing what’s ‘Available Now,’ please visit the Adult Services Desk on the top floor for assistance.

Our Commitment

We know how much you value Hoopla, and we remain committed to providing access to high-quality digital content. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to sustain this quality digital content while balancing costs across our entire collection.

Thank you for your continued support of Peter White Public Library, If you have additional questions, please reach out to our Library Director Andrea Ingmire at aing@pwpl.info or call (906) 226-4303.

This entry was posted in News.