It can be tough to keep kids engaged and entertained during the best of times. Right now, with COVID-19 disrupting so much of our daily life, it can be even harder. In an effort to keep kids and their families healthy and safe, a number of school districts are taking extended spring breaks or moving to online-only learning for the time being. hoopla is proud to be a resource that kids and families can turn to for diversion, not just in the middle of a crisis, but anytime. We offer audiobook, eBook, comics, and video collections full of series that are kid-approved. Our resource center contains assets you can use to let your patrons know about these collections—including an image you can display on your social media sites, in case your library is closed as well.
What's New
The Perfect Spring Break Companion
The calendar has flipped over to March, which means spring is on the horizon. Along with spring comes spring break and everything that comes with it—time off, road trips, beach parties, and more! What all of those things have in common is that they’re great on their own, but they’re even better when accompanied by the perfect playlist. hoopla’s Spring Break Party Music collection is the perfect companion for any and all adventures, whether it’s a staycation, an epic journey, or even just a daydream during a regular commute. Users can borrow the albums that delight them and then use hoopla’s shuffle feature for just the right mix. Our hoopla Resource Center contains assets you can use in your library or on your social media sites to remind them of the great music selection on hoopla as they make their spring break plans.
Celebrate Women’s History with hoopla!
Since 1987, the month of March has been designated as Women’s History Month in the United States. This year, Women’s History Month holds special significance, as 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in all elections. Fittingly, the theme for this year’s celebration, as chosen by the National Women’s History Alliance, is “Valiant Women of the Vote.”
We encourage your library and your patrons to celebrate women’s history along with hoopla for the entire month of March. Our media experts have put together collections of audiobooks (for kids and adults), eBooks (for kids and adults), comics, music, and video that are perfect for diving into of women’s suffrage and other relevant topics, as well as for celebrating women in general. Feel free to use our downloadable resources to display in your buildings or on your library’s social media pages to let your patrons know about all the women’s history media hoopla has to offer!
Enjoy a Classic Movie Favorite!
Sometimes there’s nothing better than parking yourself on the couch in front of a good movie—or maybe a movie marathon! With hoopla’s collection of classic movie favorites, any movie lover will be able to pick out an old favorite or something they’ve always been meaning to see. And with our app available on a variety of devices, they can enjoy all their selections on the go or stream them on the biggest television they can find. Use our resources to let your patrons know this collection is available, perfect for late winter when the weather often makes it difficult to get out of the house.
Learn About U.S. Presidents with hoopla!
Originally conceived as a holiday to honor the birthday of George Washington (February 22), Presidents’ Day now generally celebrates all who have served as President of the United States. Observed each year on the third Monday of February, it takes place this year on the 17th of the month. With that coming up, and with the 2020 presidential election beginning to take shape, this is a perfect time for little ones to learn about U.S. presidents and the presidency! hoopla’s Presidents’ Day collections will keep young readers fascinated with educational and entertaining audiobooks and eBooks detailing the office of president as well as the stories of some of those who have held it. So point your patrons toward hoopla this Presidents’ Day and let the learning commence!
Spread the Love for Graphic Novels
Comics and graphic novels have come a long way. Once considered to be a home primarily for strange and fantastical tales that would appeal only to a narrow audience, the format has since undergone a renaissance. Marrying vibrant storytelling with incredible artwork results in an art form that draws in readers across all genres and age groups. Now more than ever, graphic novels are for everyone! With so many libraries looking to expand access, we’ve put together a collection of essentials that are not to be missed. And our resource center offers assets you can use in your library to help your patrons find these great graphic novels perfect for readers who are new to the format as well as long-time readers looking for something new to check out.
Love Your Library in February!
Along with being Black History Month, February is also Library Lovers Month! While the former is undeniably of greater import than the latter, we think that perfectly reflects one of the great things about libraries—they’re places for education and introspection, but also for entertainment and fun. As librarians and patrons come together to spend the month celebrating and sharing all the reasons they love their local libraries, our media experts have joined the fun as well. They’ve created collections of audiobooks, eBooks, comics and graphic novels, music, and movies that offer just a small sampling of all the amazing content libraries have to offer. No matter a patron’s taste, every library lover can find something to enjoy—even when they may not be able to actually come into the library!
Explore Black History on hoopla
Originally started as a week of recognition centering on the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14), over time the concept has expanded to encompass all of February as Black History Month. Officially celebrated in the United States since 1976, this is the perfect time to learn about, reflect upon, and honor the stories of black America and how those stories have helped to shape the course of history and culture. On our Resource Center you can find assets your library can use through the month of February, which will point your patrons to our curated collections of audiobooks (for kids and adults), eBooks (for kids and adults), comics and graphic novels, videos, and music perfect for Black History Month.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with hoopla!
The new year is upon us, and while the days may have started to lengthen once again, it will be a while before winter loosens its icy grip. Before that happens, we have Valentine’s Day to look forward to. There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than by snuggling up with a good romance, and hoopla is here to help. Our collections of romantic movies, audiobooks, and eBooks mean hours of entertainment for your patrons—without having to brave the elements! These great titles are available on all their devices with no holds and no waiting. So spread the love to your patrons and make sure they are aware of these Valentine’s Day collections available on hoopla.
Happy New Year from hoopla!
We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!
As the curtain comes down on 2019, we here at hoopla wanted to take a moment to express our appreciation for all of our library partners. So much of our success is attributable to your creativity in promoting hoopla in your libraries and incorporating it into your programming. We are always striving to push hoopla forward, in terms of both available content and patron experience, and we have big things in store for the year to come. We thank you for your continued partnership, and we wish a very happy new year to you and your library community. We look forward to working with you in 2020 and beyond!