How Your Patrons can Listen to Music on Hoopla

Hoopla is Your Music Store—Your Streaming Destination & Entertainment Hub for Everything Music!

Hoopla Digital is a powerful platform for libraries, providing patrons with access to a vast library of music—from classic albums to contemporary hits—all for free with a valid library card. And in an age where music streaming services dominate how people consume audio content, libraries have a great opportunity to enhance offerings.

The Importance of Music Streaming in Libraries

Music streaming services have transformed how all of us access and enjoy music. Here are several reasons why incorporating music streaming into your library’s offerings is beneficial:

Instant Access: With Hoopla, patrons can stream music instantly, eliminating the need for physical checkouts or waiting for titles to become available.
Early Access: Music is often released via music streaming platforms before it’s available in physical copies, like CDs and vinyl. (Taylor Swift offered two of her albums via streaming before it was physically available!) With Hoopla Digital, patrons can listen to new releases before they can go grab a copy—for free!
Diverse Music Selection: Hoopla offers a wide array of music, spanning various genres, including classical, jazz, rock, pop, hip-hop, musicals, and more. This diversity ensures that there’s something for everyone, catering to the varied tastes of your library community.
Promoting Digital Literacy: By introducing patrons to music streaming services like Hoopla, libraries can help improve digital literacy skills (especially important for older patrons).
Community Engagement: Music can serve as a powerful tool for community engagement. New patrons will keep track of their library’s catalog when they know that new, free music is always being added.

Navigating the Music Collection on Hoopla

Once library patrons have signed up for Hoopla, they can easily access the music section. Here are some tips for navigating the collection:

Search and Browse: Users can search for specific artists, albums, or genres, making it easy to find exactly what they’re looking for. Browsing through curated collections or popular titles can help patrons discover new favorites.
Curated Collections: Hoopla often features curated collections based on themes, moods, holidays, or events. These collections can introduce patrons to new artists or highlight trending music.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform’s intuitive design ensures that users can easily navigate through the available content and download full albums. Once multiple albums are borrowed, they can then create a shuffle playlist.

Listeners who stream music on Hoopla can listen to their music across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. Hoopla’s streaming platform lets users create collections, and pause, skip, and repeat tracks. Patrons can listen to their music wherever they are.

Downloading Music from Hoopla

Anyone can learn how to download music from Hoopla! Just by tapping “Download to your device,” after borrowing an album, the album will download to the borrower’s mobile device. Once it’s downloaded, borrowers can even listen to music on a plane. The download can be removed even before the album is returned in order to free up storage space.

Promoting Music on Hoopla

Raise Awareness: Use newsletters, social media, and library events to inform patrons about the availability of music streaming on Hoopla. Highlight specific albums, artists, or playlists to generate interest and excitement—especially for new releases!
Create Themed Collections: Develop curated collections based on themes, holidays, seasons, or community interests. Display these collections prominently in the library and on your website to guide patrons in their selections and inspire exploration.
Leverage Library Staff: Encourage library staff to familiarize themselves with the music collection on Hoopla. They can recommend titles to patrons and facilitate discussions, increasing the library’s role as the go-to place for music.

Accessing Free Music Online

With Hoopla, accessing free music is simple. Patrons can borrow a specific number of titles each month, depending on your library’s policies. Once an album is borrowed, users have access for a specified period, allowing for flexible listening.