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Did you miss the recent hoopla training by the Digital Resources Committee? Take a look here at this short & sweet introduction for staff, all about hoopla. The original session description and the recording link are below.

DRC Training: Hoopla About Hoopla 
Recorded Thursday, April 3, 2025

Session Description: Hoopla – it’s not just that other eBook app besides Libby! With literally hundreds of thousands of audiobooks (its most used feature), graphic novels, music, movies, TV shows, magazines, and yes eBooks, it’s a gem of an online resource in its own right. Members of the Digital Resources Committee will present a quick refresher for library staff on Hoopla and all it has to offer. Even seasoned users can learn about lesser known features like Kids Mode and how to maximize your 5 checkout limit with Binge Passes.

– Heather Auman, Western Allegheny Community Library

Would you love to be able to offer a class on how to use social media, Google Maps or just computer basics but don’t have the staff or the time? PA Online Learning may be able to help.

PA Online Learning is a FREE growing collection of tutorials from Power Library on how to use software, social media, and library resources, such as POWER Library.

There is also a Lunch and Learn collection featuring topics such as Solar Eclipses, Women in Punk, Goth Music and much more.

It’s a great learning tool for us as well as our patrons so be sure to check it out!

Tracy – Monroeville Public Library

Level up your Libby game and impress your patrons with these cool features.

Do you (or your readers) have a tall TBR pile? If so, you can tag a book to come back to later with the tag icon found below the Read Sample/Play Sample option. A menu will appear, and you can select which list you would like the book to be added to. You can also create a new tag by scrolling to the bottom and clicking Create Tag. Patrons can navigate back to these lists by tapping the Tag icon on the bottom dock of the app.

Maybe your patrons need a little extra time to savor their check out. Did you know that renewals are a possibility in Libby? Like physical books, if no one is waiting on the title, the option to renew will appear a few days before the item’s due date. However, the item will not be auto renewed. Patrons must navigate to their shelves, click Loans, Manage Loans, and Renew Loan. If it is possible to renew the item, they will be able to click and do so. If there is a hold, they will be prompted with a hold button instead. The app will also let them know if it is too early to renew the item.

One last feature to highlight is the Timeline feature. Many readers like to keep track of the titles that they’ve read. Libby offers a version of this through the Timeline. Found by clicking on the Shelf on the bottom dock, the Timeline keeps track of books that are borrowed by year. Patrons have the option of removing titles by swiping left, which could be handy in the case of DNF reads.

So that’s it! Dazzle your patrons and fellow staff with your Libby skills and have an amazing day!

-Erin, Bridgeville Public Library