By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Northfield Public Library announced this week that after a careful review of their budget, the library will no longer be offering access to eAudiobooks through their digital service Hoopla after March 30.
Northfield library cardholders will continue to have access to Hoopla’s eBooks and “binge pass” options, such as Great Courses and magazines, and continue to have access to eBooks, eAudiobooks, and digital videos through the Libby app and Kanopy.
The library projects costs for Hoopla in 2025 will be at least $25,000, an increase of more than 50% from 2024. Hoopla uses a “price per use” model, which means the more popular the service becomes, the more it costs. Audiobooks are by far the costliest, and most accessed resource on the platform for the library.
“This increase is unsustainable given the questionable value of having no local control over the quality of the collection being offered, and no way of knowing costs up front,” said Director of Library Services, Natalie Draper. “Balancing demand for digital items with the reality of our collection budget means that we need to get more value for those dollars allocated to digital resources.”
A large percentage of the library’s total collection use is increasingly digital. Total collection use in 2024 was up 4% from 2023 in large part because of digital use.
The library will be shifting resources to curating more options in their other digital service, Libby, to reduce waitlists, which can be substantial for popular items and frustrating for borrowers. Libby gives the library the benefit of knowing costs up front and allowing them to curate the collection borrowers want.
The library added Hoopla digital services in 2021. Draper reminded everyone of the library’s commitment to offer sustainable and high-quality resources to the community. She said that the library appreciates the community’s understanding as they work towards finding the most viable solutions while ensuring fiscal responsibility.
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