It’s no secret: when it comes to digital content, libraries are often asked to do more with less, faster, and under a microscope.

And somewhere along the way, a narrative has taken hold that certain digital platforms aren’t sustainable. But what if that story is missing a few important chapters?

The reality is that Hoopla offers a toolkit with three distinct license types—Hoopla Instant, Hoopla Flex, and Hoopla Instant Bundles—that work together to shape, control, and grow your digital collection while staying firmly within budget.

No, really! Here’s how:

Three License Types, One Empowered Library 

Delivering access when it matters most, Hoopla Instant is an on-demand model, giving patrons immediate access to a massive catalog of content that includes audiobooks, eBooks, comics and manga, music, movies, TV shows, and more. No holds. No waitlists. No frustrated “why is this always checked out?!” emails.

Instant meets community expectations for instant gratification (thanks a lot, streaming era!) while allowing libraries to pay only for what’s actually used. In other words, you’re not guessing what your patrons want, you’re responding to it in real time.

If Instant is about immediacy, Hoopla Flex is about intentionality.

Flex perpetual and metered licenses allow libraries to purchase titles that live in their digital catalogs, just like a traditional collection, but without the wear-and-tear or shelving logistics. This model is ideal for high-demand titles, core authors, and community favorites you know will circulate.

It’s a powerful way to shift from reactive to strategic collection development, giving your patrons access to bestsellers and new releases while still benefiting from Hoopla’s streamlined platform.

Now for the best of both worlds: Hoopla Instant Bundles.

Bundles give you a set of borrows for a flat cost, combining the accessibility of Instant with the predictability libraries crave. Whether it’s for a themed collection, seasonal programming support, or unexpected viral trends, Instant Bundles let you expand your offerings without financial uncertainty.

It’s like adding a thoughtfully curated display, only digital, dynamic, and available 24/7.

Taken together, these three license types offer something powerful: choice.

  • Want to prioritize immediate access? Lean into Instant.
  • Need budget control and predictability? Invest in Flex.
  • Looking to eliminate high holds without unnecessary spending? Add Instant Bundles.

This mix-and-match strategy allows libraries to tailor their digital collections to their unique communities and optimize spending with intention. Rural, suburban, and large urban systems can all can calibrate Hoopla to fit their needs.

Meeting Patrons Where They Are 

At its core, Hoopla is a platform designed to help libraries do what they’ve always done best: connect people with content.

The difference? Now those stories are available right when patrons want them: on the couch at 9 p.m. when they’ve just finished their most recent read, in the car during school pickup, or in the waiting room when the dentist is running behind schedule. Way behind schedule.

And today, that kind of access is an expectation.

By leveraging Hoopla’s licensing models together, libraries can meet that expectation without compromising their mission or their budget. They can expand access, deepen engagement, and, yes, even reshape the narrative.

So maybe it’s time we retire the idea that Hoopla isn’t sustainable. Because, when used strategically, Hoopla helps you tell the digital story your library wants to tell.