Fairfield Library ends Hoopla Service in December

Fairfield Public Library (FPL) continues to expand its digital offerings, providing Jefferson County residents with more than a dozen high-quality online resources for research, learning, and entertainment. Over the years, the Library has offered specialized tools for finding grants, managing investments, learning new languages, and more — always in addition to regular funding for physical books and movies. The entirety of the Library’s materials budget comes from the Fairfield Public Library Foundation, the Library’s endowment through interest from CDs, and gifts and memorials; nearly 80% of that annual budget is supported specifically by Foundation grants. Resident of the City of Fairfield, Jefferson County rural residents, and the Library’s contracting towns funds staff wages and cover essential costs for building maintenance and day-to-day operations.

In 2026, the Library will suspend Hoopla digital streaming due to funding limitations projected for the coming year. Hoopla’s on-demand model, which charges the Library a small usage fee each time an audiobook, ebook or other streaming titles is borrowed, becomes more expensive as usage grows — an encouraging sign of community engagement but one that ultimately requires a larger materials budget than is currently available. At the same time, FPL must prioritize critical technology updates, including replacing its public computers, which were last upgraded in 2017 and are now well beyond their intended service life.

Despite this change, the Library continues to strengthen its digital collection with new and diverse resources. FPL has recently added Comics Plus, which provides unlimited access to thousands of graphic novels; GrantWatch, a powerful database for nonprofits and individuals seeking grant opportunities; and the streaming platform Kanopy, which the Library will continue to fund in 2026. These additions reflect FPL’s commitment to offering a balanced, responsive mix of digital tools and media to meet the evolving needs of Jefferson County borrowers.

The Fairfield Public Library’s ability to offer such a robust selection of digital and physical materials is possible only through the extraordinary generosity of donors who have supported the FPL Foundation for more than three decades. Their contributions ensure that readers, researchers, families, and lifelong learners have access to world-class resources right here in Fairfield. The Library Director and Board of Trustees remain dedicated to the careful stewardship of these funds and will continue to shape the library’s collections — both electronic and physical — based on the borrowing needs of the community they proudly serve.