GREENFIELD — As use of online access to digital formats of books, movies, music and more soars, library officials are working to provide a faster app to patrons.
Hancock County Public Library is working with Capira Technologies, an app development company, to create a new library app they hope to roll out in early 2019, said Kyle Turpin, the library’s web manager. Library leaders hope the new app will be faster, more responsive and more customized to patrons’ needs, Turpin said.
The library currently provides access to about six programs that host online materials for checkout through the library website, though two of those are being phased out by the end of the month because their offerings are available on other apps, officials said. Free access to research tools, such as genealogy programs or tutoring services, also bring patrons to the library’s website and app, Turpin said.
The library’s current app provider, Boopsie, had recently had service issues that caused officials to look elsewhere, said library director Dave Gray. The app wasn’t available for download for a month from the Apple app store, he said.
Data shows the library’s patrons who use the mobile app are evenly split between Apple and Android users, so it’s important for access to be equally available, Turpin said.
“We definitely want an app that can serve both markets,” he said.
Gray said the Boopsie app, which is a standard library app branded for HCPL’s use, was the best price when officials first began looking in 2013, but other companies with more features have lowered their prices since then.
Capira will build the app to suit the library’s needs, Turpin said.
Providing mobile access to library services and digital formats of books, audiobooks, movies and music continues to be a top priority, officials said.
The library’s electronic circulation has skyrocketed in the last several years, from about 10,000 check-outs in 2010 to more than 197,000 in 2015, according to the library’s 2015 annual report.
Three services had their highest-ever traffic from Hancock County Public Library patrons in August, Gray said at a recent board of directors meeting. OverDrive, which gives patrons access to ebooks, audiobooks and magazines; Hoopla, which hosts music, movies and comics; and Brain Fuse, an online-based tutoring service, saw more use in August 2018 than in any previous month, Gray said.
Library staff members have made it a big priority to increase the collection to include the materials patrons want, in whatever format they want, Turpin said.
“We are constantly getting new movies and books, and accepting requests for what people want,” he said. “If there’s something we’re not getting that’s popular, you just have to ask us for it, and a lot of times, we’ll order it.”
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Hancock County Public Library saw the highest use of three of its online resources in August, two that provide access to digital books, movies, music and comics, and one providing free tutoring help. Here’s a look at what services are available for library patrons:
OverDrive: ebooks, audiobooks and magazines
Hoopla: movies, music, comics and more
Lynda: software and skill tutorials
Brainfuse: live tutors and study tools
Mango: online language learning
Other tools: BMV practice tests, legal forms, genealogy tools, and more available at hcplibrary.org/reference.
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