Public library hold lists & Hoopla for audiobooks

[Anonymous]

I've gotten into audiobooks in the past few years. I usually get them from the Montgomery County library or Hoopla. But MCPL just switched our Hoopla book limit to 5 per month (which I hit after about 2 weeks) and the hold list for audiobooks at the county is insane. Like I'm #733 on one list, #256 on another and so on. I honestly think that the 10 hold limit is too high because we can all go on there as soon as a book is coming out and get in line, times 10. Waiting 26 weeks for a book is ridiculous. Even the librarians' list of recommended audiobooks is full of books with long wait lists! (There are about 4 books on that list that can be checked out now, but at least 3 of them are part of a series and are not book 1 in that series.)

Do other libraries in this area have a lower hold allowance? What do they allow on Hoopla?

If anyone can tell me how Audible works out in terms of the cost per book, I might consider signing up. I'm interested in any other sources for borrowing audiobooks. I read them on my long commute and while I do mundane chores, so I burn through them pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

We use Libby for e and audio books through MCPL. There is a limit of holds but I am not aware of a limit per month. DH read all the time and we have never had an issue. The thing about the 10 book limit...so often I have to reschedule my book because I am reading another book so I think the holds move quicker than estimated.

[Anonymous]

I reschedule my 10 book limit too. I put things on hold as soon as I see it in the Newly Added section and make sure to return when I’m done.

[Anonymous]

Also, donate to your library more if you want more stuff!

[Anonymous]

The libraries should not be getting rid of the books they already have on CD. They are disappearing fast and it's too bad since CDs work for some of us. You can buy a cheap, small CD player. Slip it in a fannypack.

[Anonymous]

Audiobooks are outrageously expensive for libraries. Once they purchase the license, it is only good for a certain amount of time and then they have to pay again to renew it. It's terrible. That's why libraries don't have dozens of copies available. I usually try to load up my holds list and then I always have something available.

If you have Spotify premium you get 15 hours of audiobooks per month (but it's 15 hours based on listening at regular speed. I often listen at 2.0 speed so I'm only listening for 7.5 hours, but it still counts as 15 hours.

[Anonymous]

You can get a library card with multiple jurisdictions, all of them utilize Libby, so it exponentially expands the quantity of copies available for holds and check-outs.

MoCo - has their own collection
Maryland's Digital Library - does not include MoCo, so you will need a card from Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel counties
Prince George - has their own collection
DC - has their own collection
Fairfax - has their own collection
Arlington
Alexandria

Also search by genre, audiobook, available now. I can find books that are highly rated, but just past their huge hold stage that way.

[Anonymous]

This is anonymous, so I’ll confess. When i need more holds, i borrow my kids’ library card numbers.

Libby/fairfax county has a hold limit of 10.

[Anonymous]

I just added a DC library card to my Montgomery County one to allow for more holds (not e-books, but I think it works the same). Anyone in the DMV area is eligible for a DC library card.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to mention: Spotify Premium includes audiobooks with no wait. You are limited in how many you can listen to per month, but may help supplement.

[Anonymous]

You should add a DC library card at minimum. You can get cards for any county in Maryland and some in NoVa.

Also, I often wait 26 weeks for physical books from MCPL. I just have a long list of books, both current and old. If you don't want to wait, you can pay for the book or audiobook.

[Anonymous]

I get all my reciprocal cards and use them for Libby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgot to mention: Spotify Premium includes audiobooks with no wait. You are limited in how many you can listen to per month, but may help supplement.

For some reason I can never get this to work. I've been a Premium member for eight years

[Anonymous]

Hoopla is extremely expensive. Donate! Advocate for more budget for them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get all my reciprocal cards and use them for Libby.

I do this too. I also keep a tag on Libby of all the books I want to read (hundreds at this point), and then when I need a book to read, I sort that by what's available. And I think I am either a slower reader than you or do a better job timing the hold list, by putting books on hold BEFORE I am ready to read them so they're available when I'm ready.