Hoopla

Hoopla

 If you have access to the internet and you have a library card then I want to make you aware of a great free resource that has been a real blessing to me since I first learned about it last year. It’s called Hoopla. Just Google Hoopla, set up your log-in, and you will instantly have access to a vast array of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and CDs which you can read, listen to, or watch on your computer or mobile device. You get access to whatever you borrow instantly, have access to it for 21 days, and it goes back all on its own. You can borrow up to 8 items per month.

My favorites are the audiobooks. I like to listen while I run or ride my bike. I have also been spotted by family members listening while loading or unloading the dishwasher, and even while taking a shower.

I am surprised at how many Christian books they have. I have listened to about 25 books since September of last year, most of them being Christian books of some type (A Praying Life, The Supremacy of God in Preaching, None Like Him, The Hole in our Holiness, etc.). I did manage to catch a couple of classic works (The Scarlett Letter and The Divine Comedy). I also learned some interesting things about what might be coming in the future (Artificial Intelligence, The Driver in the Driverless Car, and Augmented). And I even learned some things about improving personal skills in The Little Book of Talent.

You may be surprised at just how interesting it can be to listen to a book. Most of the readers are very good at holding your interest. You can even speed up the pace so you can get through the book more quickly.