Libraries expand digital downloads

By Eric Banford
 
Tompkins County Public Library has a new service for downloading digital media, which was launched last month. The service is provided through the Finger Lakes Library System (FLLS), and the public libraries of Cayuga, Cortland, Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins counties, in partnership with Hoopla Digital.
 
Anyone with Internet access and a current library card from one of the 33 libraries in the system may stream and borrow thousands of e-books, albums, movies, TV shows and even graphic novels.
 
The new service does not have any late fees, as the digital content is automatically removed and returned after the allotted borrowing time is up. Movies and television shows are available on patrons’ devices for three days after checkout. Music is available for seven days and audiobooks are available for 21 days.
 
“Hoopla is a service for public libraries, and it is used throughout the United States,” explains Sarah Glogowski, Executive Director of the FLLS. “Typically you will find that a library system provides it, unless it is one of the major libraries such as large metropolitan library.”
 
Library patrons can access the service via smartphone by downloading the free Hoopla Digital mobile app for both Android and IOS devices, or by visiting hoopladigital.com on a tablet or computer. Patrons may borrow up to three hoopla selections per month.
 
Another good thing about it is that it checks your materials in for you right away, so you are able to borrow 24/7 and you don’t have to wait until the library is open,” Glogowski says. “It provides instant streaming and downloading, and materials are returned automatically. There are never any late fees or anything like that, so that is something that patrons like, and that we also like so that you don’t have to worry about returning something on time.”
 
Typically, if an item in FLLS is already checked out you have to put a “hold” on it and then wait your turn. Popular items could have queues that take weeks before they become available. “With Hoopla, you also don’t have to wait for something,” says Glogowski. “If you see a DVD or a book that you’re interested in, there’s no queue, there’s no waiting period, it’s available to anyone using our system.
 
“We’re in a trial period, this is brand new,” Glogowski adds. “This is a little bit different if you are used to using our other e-concept service Overdrive. Hoopla is based on the number of circulations. Right now any patron in our library system gets three checkouts per month. That starts at the first of the month, and if you check out three items right away, you will have to wait until the beginning of the month to check something else out, but as we see the service grow, and we can monitor what is popular, for instance we know that movies and music are probably going to be popular because we don’t offer another streaming music service, we’re going to evaluate that and then select titles and possibly expand the service to have more checkouts per month.”
 
Glogowski supports the idea of FLLS providing more options to its patrons, especially for movies and TV shows. “People tend to binge-watch because of Netflix and things like that, so to be able to provide TV shows that have multiple episodes, that’s something that we heard from our patrons, that they wanted more options. The response so far has been fantastic and feedback from patrons has been encouraging. People are happy to be able to stream/download movies and music whereas before we didn’t have a service for those formats,” she says.
 
Glogowski notes that Hoopla also offers access to materials previously unavailable for download. “We’re excited to provide the comics and graphics novels, especially for young adults and people in their 20s, since it’s very popular,” she says. “To be able to offer comic books and graphic novels that you can check out online—it’s a great service.
 
“We are a public library system that helps our member libraries better serve their communities through cooperation, resource sharing, and by offering cost-effective services. We are always looking for ways to bring new services to our patrons, and Hoopla is a great opportunity for us to provide something new,” Glogowski says.
 
For more information, contact Sarah Glogowski at 607-273-4074, ext. 222, or by email at sglogowski@flls.org.