Over 150,000 new non-English eBooks, audiobooks, comics, manga, movies, songs, shows and more have arrived in the Long Beach Public Library’s (LBPL) Hoopla digital platform.
Of the 1.9 million digital materials available through Hoopla, non-English speakers can now peruse through over 275,000 titles in over 120 languages. There is no wait time for these digital materials, and any LBPL cardholder can check out up to eight items a month. Hoopla items can be checked out for three to 21 days, depending on the material.
“This expansion of Long Beach Public Library’s digital collection is a testament to our dedication to diversity and inclusion,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “By more than doubling our digital collection of non-English language titles, we are not only celebrating the rich cultural heritage of our community—we are empowering residents to learn, grow and connect in meaningful ways.”
Hoopla includes materials that dive into themes of diversity, equity and inclusion, race, mental health and religion. For users ages 12 and under, a kid-friendly mode contains separate streaming content of over 152,000 books, movies, television and more.
The City purchased these titles through a structural increase in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget and supplementary one-time funds.
Patrons can sign up for a free Hoopla account by using their Long Beach Public Library card through the LBPL Digital Library or through the Hoopla mobile app, available for iOS or Android. More information is available at lbpl.org or call 562.570.7500.