A podcast for library professionals and anyone interested in the digital publishing industry. In each episode, Hoopla’s Jeff Jankowski and Ann Ford dive into current trends and share valuable insights.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Join us for a special retrospective as we celebrate Hoopla’s biggest achievements of 2025. From expanding BingePass and SeasonPass offerings for libraries to the creation of Instant bundles and forging new partnerships with organizations like the Urban Library Council, this year marked a bold step forward. We also advanced discoverability of the Hoopla collection and championed pricing advocacy—efforts that led to more Bonus Borrows and greater value for libraries and their communities. The year was all about empowering libraries and redefining digital engagement.
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Wednesday Nov 12, 2025
Hear directly from someone on the front lines of library advocacy. Ellen Paul, Executive Director of the Connecticut Library Consortium, joins us to share how libraries are protecting equitable access to eBooks and championing patron rights.
Saturday Oct 04, 2025
Saturday Oct 04, 2025
The Straight Download Podcast isn’t exactly LeVar Burton Reads or The NYT Book Review Podcast. And it’s definitely not Joe Rogan asking authors if they believe in aliens.
But if you’re into libraries, digital strategy, and practical ideas that actually help them connect with and serve their communities—you might find it worth a listen.
Check out this clip and see what you think.
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Friday Oct 03, 2025
Libraries are grappling with shrinking catalogs, rising license costs, and unsustainable holds. Ann Ford and Jeff Jankowski share how libraries can regain control through smarter budgeting, streamlined operations, and stronger patron engagement.
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
In this episode, we continue exploring how libraries can use data to drive impact. Our guest, Michael Holton, Vice President of Product Management at Hoopla, shares how tools like Enhanced Circulation Reporting and the Patron Growth Report help libraries make smarter decisions and better understand patron behavior. Tune in to discover how these innovations are shaping the future of library services and empowering leaders with actionable insights.
Sunday Aug 10, 2025
Sunday Aug 10, 2025
Regarding digital publishing, there’s a great deal of chatter out there—unfortunately, most of it is inaccurate. If you're interested in hearing what’s truly happening within the industry, check out The Straight Download, hosted by Jeff Jankowski, Hoopla Founder and President, and Ann Ford, VP of Hoopla Sales and Support.
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
In this episode, we explore why libraries need better KPIs to measure digital success and how traditional metrics like checkouts and door counts fall short. We discuss shifting focus toward community reach, engagement, and retention—while examining the impact of power users on usage data.
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Sunday Jul 06, 2025
Ann and Jeff take a closer look at the utilization of the licenses being purchased by libraries—focusing on how utilization is measured, some of the factors that influence it, and the return on investment across different types of licenses.
What are the hosts reading?
Jeff is diving into the intrigue of Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, while Ann is exploring the powerful insights of, You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy—two thought-provoking listens available now on Hoopla!
Related Links
Readers First Article
An Open Request to OverDrive: two ways to reduce library costs — Readers First
Annerysms with Ann Ford
https://library.hoopladigital.com/tag/annerysms/
LinkedIn Group