Are your patrons confused by the many different digital services available to them for media? Does your library offer more than one single copy use eAudiobook platform?
Despite your efforts to provide a bit of something for everyone that walks into your library's doors or accesses the library online, unfortunately what often results when multiple digital platforms are offered is confusion. It is often difficult for library staff and patrons alike to differentiate between numerous models, remembering which has what content, what special software is necessary, what steps need to be taken on which device to make them work. Many "digitarians," or library users of digital services, do not understand why they should have to wait for digital content.
When we developed hoopla, we listened to many of these issues, as presented to us by our library partners. We wanted to provide a solution to all of this confusion.
With hoopla, your patrons have access to close to half a million titles, across 6 formats – Movies, TV, full music albums, eAudiobooks, eBooks, Comics/Graphic novels – all in the same location, all instantly available, all providing the same experience: Discover. Borrow. Enjoy. There are no extra steps. Even our eReader is built right into the app and interface, meaning your entire experience - from discovery to enjoyment - happens in just one space.
With hoopla, we focus our efforts on "one app, one tap." We want to help you help your patrons find what they want, when they want it. We want them to have the same experience across all content, without barriers to entry or usage. This provides less confusion than having to source and learn multiple platforms for content.
What we see happening in libraries throughout the country is a consolidation of eResources. No longer does it makes sense for our libraries to have to host and maintain multiple platforms, each having its own niche content and offering the same experience of having to wait in line to get what you want.
More libraries are beginning to cut out services such as One Click, Axis 360, Freegal, 3M, etc and are consolidating down to just 2 services: Overdrive and hoopla. With these two interfaces, your bases in terms of content are covered. By not having to purchase content from Overdrive that is offered in hoopla, your spending on the single copy use platform may very well begin to decrease, meaning you will have more funds available to provide your patrons exactly what they show you they want on hoopla.
Having one primary app through which patrons may easily access what they seek, our libraries are finding that they are:
- Providing patrons a more simplistic approach to discovery of content
- Focusing their resources and energy into acclimating and training staff.
- Spending more time engaging patrons and providing outreach to their communities.
- Positioning the service for discovery and continued success.