Attention E-Mag Readers!

Due to decreasing usage and limited titles, ACLA will be dropping our Flipster subscription as of December 31, 2022. However, there is good news for E-Magazine readers! We have two other services which offer many more titles for you to check out and flip through, digitally and on the go.

Overdrive/Libby: We currently offer over 4,000 issues of popular magazines in our Overdrive/Libby collection. Titles are always available, and there is no limit on the number you can borrow each month! Magazine issues can be checked out for up to 21 days and downloaded to a mobile device for off-WiFi enjoyment. You can find the magazine collection in the Libby app or at acla.overdrive.com.

Hoopla BingePass: A newer addition is the “BingePass” feature in Hoopla, which allows unlimited 7-day access to their magazine collection using only one of your 15 per month checkouts. So if you borrow a BingePass each week, you can have constant and unlimited access to Hoopla’s 90+ titles! Note that this is a streaming service, so an internet connection is required to read. Hoopla’s BingePass is located under the “More” section in the app or at hoopladigital.com.

Visit our eLibrary at elibrary.einetwork.net for more information, or feel free to reach out to your local library for help getting started with one of these great E-Magazine services. Happy reading!

–Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Continue ReadingAttention E-Mag Readers!

Farewell, Flipster

I am writing this to inform the staff that the digital magazine subscription service Flipster will be ending in Allegheny County libraries on December 31, 2022. Once an innovative forerunner in the digital magazine game, Flipster has begun to show its age, outshined by relative newcomers Overdrive and hoopla. Before we announce anything to patrons, we wanted to take the time to explain why we are sunsetting Flipster.

Considering budgetary restraints and service overlap, the Digital Resources Committee (DRC) conducted a thorough review of all three big names in digital magazines: Flipster, Overdrive, and hoopla. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a shot in the arm for digital access. With the dust starting to settle on the pandemic (or at least settle into the dreaded “new normal”), a re-evaluation of digital services was necessary. While looking at each provider, we considered several factors: usage, cost, user experience, authority/company reputation, accessibility, content availability, vendor service and administration, and mobile functionality. Each committee member took the time to independently evaluate these services with these criteria, and lo and behold: a consensus formed prior to discussion.

On all fronts, Flipster was coming up short. The final scores were: Flipster, 161; hoopla, 226, and Overdrive, 244. We found Flipster lagging on a number of important factors: missing latest editions, buggy/hard-to-use interface, limited back-issue access, and little name recognition. In addition, since the start of 2020, Flipster’s circulation decreased, an obvious red flag during an explosion of digital access and use. For these reasons, Flipster is the weakest link and a redundancy with both Overdrive and hoopla available to patrons.

Some patrons may take issue with the passing of trusty old Flipster, and we should be prepared. We would recommend citing some of the reasons above, particularly accessibility and latest-/back-issue access. We have found two effective methods:

  1. Citing public libraries’ limited resources (pretty hard for folks to argue with this one)
  2. Redirecting patrons to our remaining services (hoopla and Overdrive)

Two other important things to note: we will be making a separate announcement for the public later this quarter, and if any library has a direct link to Flipster on their website, please add a notice after October 1 that the service will be discontinued after Dec 31, 2022.

If you have any issues, concerns, complaints, or pretty pictures to send to the DRC, you can direct them to the co-chairs of the DRC: Hilary Lewis at lewislacknerh@carnegielibrary.org or Richelle Klug at klugr@sewickleylibrary.org or if you have any questions about this specific article/email, email me at smithc2@coopersiegelcommunitylibrary.org.

Continue ReadingFarewell, Flipster

Back to School – First Day Confidence

Starting school can be nerve wracking for any age, but it’s especially hard for the littles. Hoopla has put together a wonderful collection to help your kiddos start school with courage and poise. Below are some of my favorites to read in storytime! So grab your library card, a reading device and cuddle up on the couch for wonderful read-aloud books!

Back to school with Confidence

Gabi – Robinson Library

Continue ReadingBack to School – First Day Confidence

Back to Elementary School with hoopla

The beginning of the school year is a whirlwind for everyone. Students have growing reading goals, parents have busy schedules, and teachers are always planning their next lesson. In other words: there’s a lot of hoopla surrounding a brand new school year, especially for young readers.

So, how do you contend with the hoopla? Hoopla!

Yes, this is the hoopla we’ve been excited about.

Hoopla makes finding the digital resources you need easy for everyone!

With their timely and convenient Back to School Collection, finding eBooks for elementary students is a breeze. Hoopla’s curated selections of #BacktoSchool eBooks puts everything in one place — like this collection of Back to School Confidence eBooks, helpful for those students (…and parents…and teachers) who are looking to muster a little extra self-assurance to start the new school year strong.

Photo by SurveyHacks

Start exploring hoopla today and find exactly what you’re looking for! All you need to get started is your library card.

Derek, South Park Township Library

Continue ReadingBack to Elementary School with hoopla