Hoopla Changes Coming May 2026
Beginning May 1, 2026 Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County libraries are implementing a Daily Spending Cap on Hoopla. This sets a dollar amount limit that, once reached, will pause Hoopla checkouts until the next day. The Daily Spending Cap resets at midnight local time.
Why is this happening?
One of the great things about Hoopla is that everything is available and there is no waiting. This is because Hoopla operates on a cost per circulation model. The library pays for each individual borrow. Unfortunately, because of the popularity of Hoopla, managing the expense of a cost per circulation model cannot be effectively done through borrowing limits alone. The Daily Spending Cap is the only way to establish a predicable cost while still continuing to offer this popular service.
The countdown for the spending limit starts at midnight. Based on current use, we anticipate that the daily spending limit will be reached every day.
The Daily Spending Cap is a collective limit, not to be confused with the personal check out limit, which remains at 5 borrows per month.
Bonus Borrows, which are available the last seven days of every month, are not impacted by the Daily Spending Cap. Bonus Borrows let you borrow library books, movies, and more. Bonus Borrows do not count toward the Daily Spending Cap, and they do not count as part of your 5 borrows per month.
What Does the Spending Cap Look Like?
Once the Daily Spending Cap is reached for the day, a message will be displayed in the Hoopla app and browser experience when a borrow is attempted. Here is an example of what the message will look like:
The Library Already Made Changes to eResources, Why Are You Doing This Again?
In September 2024 we instituted several changes to our Libby and Hoopla lending limits in an effort to contain ballooning eResources costs across all our digital platforms. An overview of those changes can be found here. The changes we implemented in 2024 did help contain eResources costs temporarily but have not proven sufficient in the face of growing demand. In fact, our monthly Hoopla costs are now at the same level as when we implemented the changes in 2024.
Are There Any Planned Changes to Libby?
No, no changes are being made to Libby. The hold and checkout limits remain the same. We are currently able to manage costs on Libby through holds and purchasing decisions.
We know these are unwelcome changes, and we wish we did not have to make them. Once the Daily Spending Cap is in place, we will be monitoring turnaway statistics and the user experience. We appreciate your understanding as we make this difficult decision.