Hoopla Digital is an excellent platform where you can find a wide variety of digital content for free. However, the borrowing limits mean that you can only access a handful of items per month, which can be very frustrating.
But did you know that Hoopla offers a BingePass option, where you can access a lot more content in a single checkout?
And the best part is that this option is available for a wide range of content on the platform, from movies to TV shows, magazines, books, audiobooks, and more.
Below is a detailed look at the Hoopla BingePass, how it works, and how you can use it to borrow more items from the platform.
What is the Hoopla BingePass?
A BingePass is a single checkout that provides you with unlimited access to curated content or entire platforms (channels) on Hoopla Digital.
It is an exciting option that allows you to access more content, as it only counts as one borrow towards your monthly limit.
Hoopla’s monthly limits vary depending on participating libraries, but most of them offer between 4 and 15 items per month.
However, with the Hoopla BingePass, you can use one of your monthly borrows to access a collection, such as a movie collection with hundreds of titles.
In the case of TV shows, you can also get a SeasonPass that gives you access to an entire season of a TV show in a single checkout, as opposed to borrowing individual episodes.
The Hoopla BingePass is valid for 7 days. During those seven days, you can access as many items under pass as you want, without any borrows being deducted from your monthly limit.
You can also renew a pass, with the renewal counting as one more borrow towards your monthly limit.
How much does a Hoopla BingePass cost?
Like all content on Hoopla, the BingePass is free for patrons (users). However, Hoopla Digital charges libraries for every borrow by the patron.
Since BingePass counts as a single borrow, participating libraries only pay a one-time fee for each pass borrowed by the patrons, which is approximately $2.99.
The binge pass is, therefore, a very valuable feature for both patrons and libraries. On one hand, it allows patrons to borrow more content than they would typically do if they were borrowing individual items.
On the other hand, the pass allows libraries to save money by significantly reducing the cost per item circulated. The financial savings can be especially vital for public libraries with a limited budget or many patrons.
How to borrow items with BingePass?
To borrow items with a BingePass, you will first need to have a Hoopla Digital account.
Creating a Hoopla account
If you don’t have a Hoopla account, follow the steps below to create one:
- Visit the Hoopla website or download the Hoopla app on your device.
- Click on the “Get Started” or “Register” option to create an account.
- You need a valid email address, a library card number from a participating library, and (in some cases) a library card pin.
But what if your library does not offer Hoopla? What can you do?
Hoopla Digital is available in over 10,000 public libraries in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.
If your library does not have Hoopla, you can look up other Hoopla Participating libraries near you that offer the service. Contact one of the libraries and ask about becoming a member.
If you are in the same state or locality, you won’t have a problem joining the library. Some participating libraries offer remote memberships to non-residents (possibly at a fee), which is another option you can consider.
How to find Hoopla BingePasses?
Once you have your Hoopla account, you can start taking advantage of BingePasses. Currently, the passes are only available on limited devices: computers (Hoopla Digital website), smartphones and tablets (Hoopla app), and Roku devices (select binge passes).
To get a BingePass, follow the steps below:
- Computer (or any internet-connected device with a browser): Go to https://www.hoopladigital.com/browse/binge, select one of the available passes, and check it out.
- Mobile devices: Launch the Hoopla Digital app, tap on the “More” button, browse through the available content to find BingePasses, and check one out.
- Roku devices: Launch the Hoopla channel, browse through the available items to find BingePasses.
You can also search “bingepass” on your Hoopla account, which will bring up all the passes that are available to you.
In addition, Hoopla and some participating libraries often post notifications of new passes once they are introduced. Therefore, you can check your library’s website, Hoopla’s press release, social media, and online news sites for new passes.
What type of content can you access with BingePasses?
Hoopla BingePasses cover a variety of content, including movies, TV shows, magazines, games, puzzles, comic books, and more.
Below is a detailed look at some of the BingePasses that are available on Hoopla:
Movies
You can enjoy the following movie BingePasses on Hoopla:
- Hallmark+: A movie pass, with over 1,500 Hallmark movies from Hallmark Originals, Hallmark Channel, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
- AsianCrush: An entertainment pass with over 1,200 Asian content titles, including movies, dramas, and anime.
- Filmocracy: A movie pass with over 3,000 year-round films and an extra 6,000 rotating festival films.
- iNDIEFLIX: A pass that offers over 4,000 independent movies, documentaries, and TV shows.
- Fandor: A movie pass with over 1,300 independent films, classic movies, and documentaries.
- Midnight Pulp: A pass that offers an extensive collection of cult movies, from horror to action, sci-fi, thrillers, and some TV shows.
TV shows
The following TV shows are available with a SeasonPass option on Hoopla:
- The Librarians: The Next Chapter
- Leverage: Redemption
- Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators
- The Librarians
- Midsomer Murders
- Forsyte Saga
- DCI Banks
- Wallander
- Leverage
- Inspector Lynley Mysteries
- The Outpost
- Making Stuff
- Absolutely Fabulous
- Finding Your Roots
- Art 21: Art in the Twenty-First Century
- Drive Thru History: Acts To Revelation
- Startup Library: Quilting
- Sewing
- Amigurumi: Woodland Animals
- Startup Library: Knitting
Hobbies & learning content
You can find several BingePasses with education content dedicated to various hobbies. These passes include:
- Gardening with Monty Don: Over 300 episodes from the BBC series Gardener’s World.
- The Great Course Library Collection: A collection of over 300 courses with thousands of learning sessions.
- Fret Zealot: A collection of over 100 courses with thousands of video lessons covering various musical instruments.
- In the Kitchen with Craftsy: A collection of 64 cooking and baking episodes.
- Medici.tv: A collection of jazz and classical music videos, with everything from concerts to Opera shows, documentaries, master classes, and more.
- The French Chef: 84 episodes covering Julia Child’s French cooking sessions.
- The Ken Burns Collection: A collection of historical documentaries, covering various topics from national parks to Jazz, the Civil War, and more.
- Get Healthy UTV: A collection of home workout sessions led by experts in yoga, cardio, strength, kickboxing, barre, and more.
Magazines, books, and comics
If you are a magazine, book, or comics fan, you can find the following BingePasses on Hoopla:
- Hoopla Magazines: A collection of over 100 magazines
- Fanbase Press: A collection of 10 comic series
- Comics Kingdom: A collection of thousands of classic comics.
Kids content
Hoopla Digital also offers several kid-friendly binge passes. Some of the top ones you can find include:
- All-Star: Over 300 nonfiction sports eBooks for young people aged 4-11.
- Animals in Action: A collection of eBooks about various animals, from dinosaurs to modern-day wildlife.
- The Empathy Shelf: Over 100 eBooks for kids aged 4-9 that support social-emotional learning skills development.
- Fiona the Hippo: A collection of over 20 books about Fiona, the hippo from Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
- GoKidGo Spine Chillers Podcast: A collection of kids’ podcasts with several spooky stories.
- GoKidGo Universe Podcast: A collection of kids’ podcasts with several captivating stories.
- The Highlight Collection: A collection of more than 200 kids’ magazines, puzzles, and videos from the Highlights magazine.
- Kids’ Books in Action: A collection of short films based on various kids’ picture books, nursery rhymes, and bedtime stories.