The River Forest Public Library is joining the ranks of local libraries offering new ways to connect with digital books, movies and media through a service called Hoopla.
The service allows River Forest Library patrons to either stream or download audiobooks, music, movies and TV shows. Hoopla is available for personal computers and all major mobile devices. The library described the service as part of its ongoing effort to give patrons as many titles as possible in whichever format they prefer.
Hoopla Digital is an online streaming service operated by Midwest Tape, a Holland, Ohio based media distributor. Since the service was launched in 2013, a number of libraries throughout the Chicago area and beyond have joined, including the Oak Park Public Library.
To access the media available through the service, users need to have a membership with one of the participating libraries. Library patrons can access Hoopla on their computers by going to hoopladigital.com. Hoopla can also be accessed via mobile devices using free iOS, Android and Kindle apps.
In an emailed statement, Margaret Banerji, the River Forest Public Library’s Manager of Virtual Services, said that the agreement with Hoopla is part of the library’s efforts to increase its offerings.
“The RFPL strives to provide access to content in as many formats as possible for our patrons,” the statement said. “We are confident Hoopla Digital will supplement our already strong audiovisual collections and allow patrons to access thousands of music titles, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks without having to wait or worry about fines.”
Hoopla allows patrons to either stream or download any of its titles any time they want. As with physical titles, the digital titles get “checked out” for a finite period of time. Patrons can borrow audiobooks for 21 days, music for seven days and videos for three days. By comparison, patrons can borrow physical audio books for three weeks, music CDs for three weeks and DVDs/Blu-Rays for one week. Unlike physical titles, digital titles don’t have to be turned in — they automatically vanish once the lending period is over.
Patrons can borrow up to eight titles each month. While they can’t renew titles, they can check out a title again. However, every re-checkout counts towards a monthly total. Barnerji told Forest Leaves that the terms are the same for both streamed and downloaded titles.
“Streaming titles do have to be ‘checked out’ so they do count toward [the monthly] limit,” she said.
Hoopla has been avaliable to patrons for a little over a week. Barnerji said that, so far, the response has been encouraging.
“So far, patrons are very positive and curious,” she said. “Our patrons love media — our DVD collection is incredibly popular. We’ve been pitching this as a supplement to the tangible AV collection. We’ve told people and then found out they went home to try [Hoopla], which is great. We hope to continue the momentum.”
Barnerji said that it was just one of the several new digital services the library is planning to offer.
“The RFPL is really working to enhance our digital services so that the library can offer patrons quality services 24/7,” she said “In addition to our strong collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks, we added Flipster, a digital magazine service, in December. And Rosetta Stone online will be available later this month.”
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While the library always hopes that patrons would actually visit the building, Barnerji said that they want to make sure patrons have access to services they can use even when the building is closed.
“Patrons can print from home and pick up their print jobs at the library, access Consumer Reports online and try dozens of other great virtual services,” she said. “Of course, we always want patrons to visit the library, but now they can access the library whenever, wherever they are.”
Igor Studenkov is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.