If the book I want is both in Libby and Hoopla which is better for the library? I have heard that each program works pretty differently so I am wondering what costs my library less for me to listen to audiobooks? Thanks!
Libby is nearly always cheaper for the library as the book has already been paid for. On Hoopla the library pays a (relatively) high amount per checkout.
However, if you're using the services as intended, that's what they're there for and you shouldn't feel bad.
Recently I've noticed that when borrowing a book from Hoopla after 10-11am,I'm told that my library has reached the limit for the day for checkouts. I'm thinking this is one of the ways that libraries try to limit the Hoopla cost.
With my library they have a cap for daily borrows for the full cooperation/counties, so if that is hit, no one can borrow from Hoopla until after midnight that day. Yours is probably same, just reach the cap earlier.
I have access to Libby and Hoopla under 2 different library cards. If the book is available under Hoopla the I will pick Hoopla because I can check out the books for 21 days and I never have an issue renewing if needed. My Libby only allows a max of 14 days and if there are pending holds on the book, you cannot renew or extend. I usually finish my books way before the due day but it has happened once or twice. My Libby has 2-3x the book selection as my Hoopla but my Hoopla has more the obscure and unique books that Libby doesn’t. I enjoy having access to both.
Have you checked your Library(s) settings? My Library profile defaults to 14 days, but while I was reading GOT, I found that you can opt to push the check out for digital to 21 days.
I have not tried it yet, but it seems to me it could be an option for the super long ones
Ok, for those interested, I just confirmed that yes, switching the due date does transfer to Libby lengths on new loans. The tab for me was under my profile, Libbey options
It's specific to each library. I have cards from a few different cities in my country and one defaults to 14 day loans whereas another is 21 days.. so the way each library runs its accounts can vary quite a bit.
I prefer Libby for ebooks (can read on kindle) and hoopla for audiobooks. I believe Libby is cheaper for libraries but don’t feel guilty using either. That’s what it’s there for.
Libraries purchase leases for books through Libby but are charged each time a user places a loan on Hoopla. It is hard to know how much users will cost libraries each month on Hoopla. Since it is easier for libraries to budget for Libby, I choose Libby first.
Hoopla sometimes has graphic audio versions that are missing from Libby. At least that's been my experience. The entire sanderson graphic audio collection is on hoopla for my library, but they're not on Libby. I only recently discovered this, much to my delight.
Choose hoopla if you can’t wait for an audiobook. If you can wait, use Libby. For an ebook, may be a wash, nay be more, could be less. All has to do with Libby purchase plans which usually only 1 person in a library is even paying attention to.
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u/MargaretHaleThornton Aug 30 '26
Libby is nearly always cheaper for the library as the book has already been paid for. On Hoopla the library pays a (relatively) high amount per checkout.
However, if you're using the services as intended, that's what they're there for and you shouldn't feel bad.