How a major library system managed demand and costs with a multi-model strategy

At a Glance:

After four months of Hoopla Instant Bundle usage (period ending May 2026):

  • San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) reduced cost per circulation by 55% at full utilization
  • Over 70% of Instant Bundles already generating savings
  • High-demand titles reached 90-100% utilization, some within the first 10 days

The Challenge

When Baker & Taylor’s Boundless platform shut down, SFPL faced immediate pressure to adapt. The priority was clear: maintain uninterrupted access to high-demand digital content while managing costs during a period of rapid change.

Demand didn’t slow down, but the systems supporting it did.

“The transition was a high-stress time, but your team made it so much easier for us.”
– Alice S. Chan, Collections & Cataloging Manager, San Francisco Public Library

The team needed a solution that could stabilize access, absorb demand, and provide more control over spending, without sacrificing the patron experience.

The Approach

Hoopla was thrilled to partner with the library and jumped at the chance to help the team tackle these challenges.

Already a Hoopla Instant partner, SFPL quickly adopted Flex and Instant Bundles as new strategic layers:

Hoopla Instant provided always-available access for immediate patron needs

Hoopla Flex introduced holds-based structure for demand balancing

Hoopla Instant Bundles targeted high-demand titles to reduce cost and improve efficiency

Implementing Hoopla’s multi-model system allowed the library to respond quickly and strategically, helping them shift from reactive purchasing to intentional, data-informed decision making.

The Experience

Throughout the transition, partnership played a critical role.

“We feel like we’ve been heard. They’re very responsive. They’re open to hearing ideas. Nothing feels off limits.”
– Alice S. Chan, Collections & Cataloging Manager, San Francisco Public Library

The responsiveness and collaboration enabled the library to rapidly test approaches and refine its strategy with confidence.

The Results

Reducing cost with Instant Bundles: On Instant Bundle titles that reached full utilization, SFPL reduced their cost per circulation by 55% compared to standard Instant usage.

Savings continued to increase as Instant Bundles approached full utilization, turning demand into a cost advantage.

Serving high-demand titles more efficiently: High-demand titles were fully utilized quickly, with most Instant Bundles already delivering—or on track to deliver—measurable savings.

Demand remained strong even beyond initial Instant Bundle usage, validating title selection and strategy.

  • Many Instant Bundles reached 90-100% utilization
  • Multiple titles fully exhausted at 100% usage
  • Continued borrowing even after Instant Bundle capacity was reached

Driving patron adoption: Growing demand became less of a cost risk and more of a cost advantage. With fast adoption from a zero baseline, Instant Bundles reached nearly 10% the size of SFPL’s Instant base in four months, complementing Instant usage rather than replacing it. Every additional borrow pushed cost per circulation lower, expanding access while optimizing cost.

The Bottom Line

SFPL reshaped how they manage digital collections by combining Instant, Flex, and Instant Bundles. Their experience proves that libraries don’t have to choose between patron access and budget control; by adopting this multi-model strategy, libraries of any size can:

  • Reduce cost per circulation while efficiently serving high-demand titles.
  • Align spend directly with usage using real performance data.
  • Adapt quickly to demand surges and evolving budget constraints.
  • Ensure long-term sustainability without ever sacrificing availability.