I consider myself to be comfortable with technology and had little trouble navigating both apps on different devices.

While I can testify to Hoopla’s streaming on Roku, my coverage may not yield the same results on other devices. Meanwhile, Hoopla’s capacity can extend to ChromeCast, Apple TV, Android TV, and Fire TV. Libby’s capacity can extend further to other devices such as Kindle devices, Amazon Echo, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. In my state of quarantine, I only had access to my Android phone, my laptop, and a TV with Roku. This is because I had a CLP library card from my previous residency and because the CLP has materials available on both Libby and Hoopla. For example, while it is possible to find and obtain library cards online or in person, I chose to utilize my membership with the CLP for testing. While I made my testing as expansive as possible to provide accurate information, there are several limitations to my methods. From left to right: Libby screenshot in dark mode, Hoopla screenshot. Our question today is: is one app better than the other?įigure 1: Two screenshots of each app from a cellular device, each showcasing their current popular ebook titles available to borrow. Yet, after some testing and comparing, there are some notable differences that may surprise users. This is because users can borrow more varieties of materials, and they can even stream television shows and movies from different devices like a smart TV. For some users, Hoopla can feel like a step-up from Libby. Hoopla is very similar to the library reader app Libby by Overdrive, which allows users to borrow ebooks and audiobooks. An app called Hoopla, a platform that allows users to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, music albums, television shows, and movies, is another resource available to stay entertained. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (CLP), for example, has resources online for listening to music from Pittsburgh-based artists ( STACKS) and for learning job-applicable skills ( from LinkedIn). As the world fell into quarantine and users went online, libraries began to push their e-resources available as a means to pass the time.

Libby app libraries