Libraries have long extended their reach beyond the limits of their physical space. Hoopla Digital tries to take that even further with its digital media service, which offers a pay-per-use model that allows multiple patrons to check out content. Library users can borrow movies, music, audiobooks, e-books, comics, and TV shows for devices ranging from desktop computers to tablets, phones, and smart TVs. Titles can be streamed immediately, or downloaded for later.
According to Brad Rose, v-p of content strategy, Hoopla strives to “enhance the library ecosystem” with the company’s own collection mentality. “Libraries do a great job of capturing the biggest and the best,” he says, referring to the fact that most libraries have top movies and bestselling books readily available. “Everything else is a struggle,” he adds. Space and budget limitations make weeding collections a daily reality. But, he says, Hoopla can go deeper and wider by offering immediate access to authors’ backlist and by introducing new titles and genres.
While Rose is quick to say that he has no hard proof (yet), anecdotal evidence indicates that Hoopla is having a positive effect on print sales. He cites Lisa Jewell’s novel Then She Was Gone as a case in point. While the book was selling nicely, it wasn’t breaking any records. But meanwhile, it was a top-selling, top-trending title for months and months on Hoopla, during which period it hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Author engagement is a key part of Hoopla’s efforts as well. The company’s deep bench means that readers can quickly and easily access everything from a particular author. Hoopla provides supplemental content, such as author interviews, and sponsors old-fashioned meet-and-greets. Hoopla also has a quarterly book club that features eight titles from different genres, with a single spotlight selection.
In the six years since its launch, Hoopla has demonstrated tremendous growth, notes Rose. The number of titles it offers in both audio and e-books has expanded exponentially. In 2015, readers could choose from 7,000 e-book titles and 16,000 audiobook titles. Today, they can choose from 300,000, and 70,000 respectively. The company now has more than 6,600 libraries using its digital lending services and 4,000 publishing partners. And the most important statistic of all: Hoopla has more than four and a half million registered library users.
Hoopla staff are on hand at booth 1111 to demonstrate their service.
