Findlay Library system cutting service due to cost

FINDLAY, Ohio — The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library (FHCPL) system will be cutting a digital book service later this year, citing the cost of the service while libraries face budget challenges from the state. 

According to a social media announcement from FHCPL’s Director Sarah Clevidence, the library will no longer offer access to Hoopla, effective Oct. 31, 2025. The library said this service accounts for 20% of the library’s materials budgets, but only 4% of its circulation. She said that maintaining access to the service “has come at an unsustainable cost to the rest of the library’s collection.”

“We know that patrons who use Hoopla love this resource,” Clevidence said in the release. “Unfortunately, it is no longer possible for the library to afford to provide a good user experience.”

Clevidence said it would reallocate a portion of the Hoopla budget to the Ohio Digital Library collection. This will reduce hold wait times, and offers services readers may be interested in. Library card holders can have as many as 20 holds at a time, and use a “Wish List” and “Notify Me” service. 

Clevidence wrote in the announcement that the difficult decision was made due “the challenging budget reality facing public libraries.” It comes just a week after the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Board announced it would be closing the Toledo Heights branch and reducing operational hours at other branches at the start of 2026. The Toledo Library also said reduced funding from the state of Ohio’s biennium budget caused the changes. 

Hoopla is a third-party company that allows digital access to audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies and more via your library. The Toledo Library system currently offers access to Hoopla.