You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

As I mentioned in my introduction about a year ago, I have to borrow many books from the library, and I prefer e-books, because of the storage space I have.

Yesterday when I was logged into the Pima County Library to see what books were available, I was redirected to a site called "Hoopla." I did a little looking on the internet, and apparantly Hoopla is a sort of "national repository" of books that a local library borrows from them, then in turn lends to a reader.
Apparantly some libraries did not at all sign up for this service and at least some are dropping out of it because they charge the local library for borrowing the book (as near as I can determine, the reader is not charged).
I suppose this can be looked at in 2 different ways. First they are employing a business model that should not be a revenue source, public libraries, The seccond way to look at it is that the library is using its funding to get access to a supply of many more books that are more widely available than it can buy with that funding.
If anyone has actually used this service, I am looking for some feedback about the service before I actually sign up for it.
Brian Christiansen

I’ve used it for years, Brian, to borrow audiobooks. It’s always been free here, so I’d think that’s the case everywhere. The difference with Hoopla is that items are “always available”, unlike Libby and other services where ppl are waiting in line for them.

My understanding from others I’ve met here on GR is that local libraries are paying more for digital items than for physical copies. I don’t know if this is true here, bc I’ve never asked a librarian, but for this reason I try to keep my use to a minimum.

Having said that, though, when I can’t get an audiobook elsewhere, I know that anything in their catalog will always be there when I want it. Our library allows 5 or 6 items in a month, or thereabouts, so I would think yours would have limits too. And there is a 21-day borrowing period here, just like a physical book.

I imagine your library has a FAQ page for Hoopla, and any other digital services they offer.

I hope this helps!