23-05-2025
Bexley Library patrons compete for limited digital access amid increased demand
BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) — Bexley Library card holders hoping to digitally borrow books and movies are hitting a snag: The service often reaches its daily limit in the early morning hours, leaving patrons competing for limited access.
The Bexley Public Library offers virtual downloads through Hoopla, a company headquartered in Holland, Ohio, that allows people to log in with a library card and enjoy virtual movie, TV, audiobook and eBook downloads for free at participating libraries. Library spokesperson Paige Bilotta said although the service is free for library card holders, each transaction costs the library money, so it needs to limit its use each day.
'Unlike other platforms, Hoopla operates on a 'pay-per-use' model, which means we have to set daily, monthly and individual borrowing limits to stay within our budget,' Bilotta said. 'As more of our cardholders get savvy about using platforms like Hoopla to bypass wait times on services like Libby — which have limited copies of each title — those limits are reached more quickly.'
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According to the Delaware County District Library, prices vary among items but an eBook usually costs libraries $3 per checkout, movies and music cost around $1.50 and eAudiobooks, the most expensive and popular category, cost as much as $3.99.
Laura Moskow Sigal is a Bexley resident and longtime patron of the library. She said she recently joined Hoopla to enjoy the library's movie collection, but every time she logs in to use the service, she gets an error message that the library has reached its quota for the day. She said this usually happens around 9 a.m.
'When I called the library, they said the reason for that is that Columbus Public Libraries has stopped using Hoopla, so all the Columbus folks are now getting Bexley Library cards,' Sigal said.
Columbus Metropolitan Libraries provided NBC4 with the message they sent to patrons after they discontinued Hoopla last November. The library said the costs associated with Hoopla required them to significantly limit daily use for patrons.
'Although it's free for customers to use, the library is charged a fee for every item that is checked out,' the library said. 'We've had a significant increase in customer use the past few years and costs have increased substantially. Unfortunately, we just can't sustain Hoopla in a manner that meets customer demand.'
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Instead, the Columbus library invested in more eBooks and eAudiobooks, as well as other digital options like Libby, Overdrive and Kanopy. Bilotta said she spoke with the Bexley Library's collection manager, who said an influx of Columbus patrons may be a factor, but it is not the only cause.
'She mentioned that while a small number of Columbus Metropolitan Library users might be contributing to some of the strain, the bigger factor is the continued rise in digital checkouts overall,' Bilotta said.
Sigal said she was told the Columbus library patrons were the main source of the strain, and suggested a solution. She said she had no problem paying taxes to support the library, but because Bexley residents do so, she asked if they could be prioritized for digital downloads.
'Since we all have a Bexley address, I don't think that would be a major problem for a computer system,' Sigal said.
Bilotta said only Bexley Public Library cardholders are able to access the library's Hoopla. However, the library also receives funding from the state, allowing them to offer library cards to any Ohio resident.
'As a BPL cardholder, your address doesn't limit your access,' Bilotta said. 'Once you have a card, you're eligible to use Hoopla and all of our materials just like any other patron.'
Bilotta said the library is glad so many users take advantage of the resources, and that the Bexley Library is always evaluating how best to meet growing demand.
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