Public libraries are no longer just quiet physical spaces. They are rapidly evolving digital ecosystems, and the latest data makes that shift impossible to ignore. The newly released Hoopla Digital 2025 trends report offers a clear, data-backed look at how readers are consuming content across public libraries worldwide. Drawing from thousands of institutions, the report highlights how digital library trends 2025 are being shaped by changing reader habits, expanding platforms, and growing demand for instant access.
This surge reflects a broader pattern of public library digital growth, where borrowing is increasingly driven by audiobooks, e-books, and multimedia formats. As digital media in public libraries continues to expand, Hoopla’s findings provide valuable insight into how libraries are adapting to modern consumption while remaining accessible and inclusive. With rising usage, new partnerships, and expanding catalog access, Hoopla expansion in public libraries has positioned the platform as a major force in 2025 digital lending statistics, offering a glimpse into how libraries are redefining engagement in a digital-first world.
According to the latest Hoopla library data report, digital borrowing across public libraries continues to accelerate at a steady pace. In 2025 alone, the platform recorded an overall increase in total content checkouts, supported by dozens of new institutions joining its network. These additions reflect strengthening Hoopla library partnerships 2025, as more libraries invest in scalable digital access to meet reader demand.
One of the most notable developments is sustained Hoopla audiobook growth, signaling a shift in how patrons engage with long-form content. This rise is closely tied to Hoopla digital audiobook borrowing, which allows users to access titles instantly without waitlists or credit limits. As listening habits expand across age groups, audiobooks have become a core pillar of modern library lending rather than a supplemental format.
At the same time, libraries are broadening their collections to support evolving patron needs. Expanded digital content for libraries now includes e-books, audiobooks, music, video, comics, and manga, all available within a single platform. Together, these trends point to a future where digital access is not optional but essential to public library relevance and reach.
Borrowing data from Hoopla reveals more than just popular titles. It highlights how reader priorities are shifting across formats and genres. The strongest signals from this year point directly to evolving digital book trends 2025, where engagement is driven by immersive storytelling, personal growth, and emotionally charged narratives.
Audiobook borrowing in particular reflects changing habits, with data from the platform’s audiobook library usage report showing strong momentum across multiple age groups. Listener interest gravitated toward long-running series and high-stakes fiction, reinforcing the continued rise of 2025 audiobooks top categories dominated by suspense-driven plots. Among these, romantasy and thriller books 2025 emerged as consistent favorites, blending escapism with emotional depth in a way that resonates strongly in audio format.
E-books followed a slightly different path. Borrowers leaned toward nonfiction titles focused on mindset, communication, and financial understanding, while still embracing dark, fast-paced fiction. These patterns are reflected in Hoopla e-book borrowing trends, which show steady demand across both entertainment and self-improvement. Together, these insights define the shape of 2025 library ebook categories, confirming that today’s digital readers are seeking both escape and enrichment from their library platforms.
One of the more distinct insights from Hoopla’s reporting is how comics and manga behave differently from traditional reading formats. Unlike standard e-books, these formats are consumed visually and interactively, which is why Hoopla treats them as a separate category within its platform. This distinction reflects broader shifts in digital content for libraries, where format experience matters as much as the content itself.
Hoopla’s approach acknowledges that readers often search for comics and manga by publisher or series rather than by title alone. To support this behavior, the platform has invested in a viewing experience designed specifically for visual storytelling. This focus on usability and reader experience highlights ongoing Hoopla digital content innovation, ensuring that graphic formats feel native rather than adapted.
As demand continues to rise, the platform’s commitment to expanding visual formats is reinforced by Hoopla’s increasing catalog, which now spans a wide range of publishers and styles. For libraries, this separation is strategic. It improves discoverability, enhances reader satisfaction, and positions comics and manga as a core part of modern digital collections rather than a niche add-on.
Another revealing pattern in Hoopla’s 2025 data is the continued popularity of banned and frequently challenged books. Titles that have faced restrictions or removal in physical spaces are seeing strong engagement through digital platforms, where access is private and immediate. This trend highlights how digital libraries play a critical role in protecting reader choice and intellectual freedom.
Well-known dystopian and socially reflective works continue to circulate heavily, suggesting that readers actively seek out books that explore power, censorship, and personal agency. From a data perspective, these patterns are reflected in broader ebook borrowing statistics in libraries, which show that controversial or challenged titles often experience renewed interest when digital access removes physical and social barriers.
For libraries, this behavior reinforces the importance of maintaining diverse digital collections. Digital lending offers a discreet way for readers to explore complex or sensitive material without fear of judgment or limitation. As debates around content access continue globally, Hoopla’s borrowing trends demonstrate how digital platforms quietly preserve freedom to read while meeting evolving community needs.
Audiobooks have firmly established themselves as the fastest-growing format in digital library lending, and Hoopla’s data explains why. Continued Hoopla audiobook growth statistics show that listeners are no longer treating audio as an occasional alternative but as a primary way to consume books. Convenience, flexibility, and expanding genre availability have all contributed to this shift.
Unlike retail platforms that limit users to a fixed number of credits, library lending encourages experimentation. This low-risk environment has helped reshape the future of audiobooks in libraries, allowing readers to explore new authors, genres, and series without commitment. As a result, many listeners consume multiple titles per month rather than carefully rationing a single choice.
These behaviors are captured clearly in the latest Hoopla report audiobooks and e-books, which shows how discovery-driven borrowing fuels deeper engagement. Readers sample freely, abandon quickly if a title does not resonate, and move on without penalty. This pattern benefits both libraries and authors by increasing exposure and broadening listening habits. Ultimately, Hoopla’s audiobook success reflects a larger cultural shift toward flexible, on-demand storytelling that fits seamlessly into everyday life.
Looking ahead, Hoopla’s strategy is clearly shaped by what readers are already showing interest in today. Insights from Hoopla growth categories 2025 indicate that future expansion will focus on depth rather than just scale. Libraries are not simply adding more titles; they are strengthening collections in areas where engagement is sustained and repeat borrowing is common.
One notable area of momentum is the rise of independent publishing. Increased visibility and circulation of self-published books on Hoopla demonstrate how digital libraries are becoming discovery engines for authors who may not dominate retail charts but attract loyal readerships. This organic discovery benefits libraries by offering variety and benefits authors by expanding reach beyond traditional sales channels.
Another fast-growing segment is multilingual content. Data points to clear Hoopla trends in foreign language books, reflecting how libraries serve increasingly diverse communities. Demand for Spanish, French, German, and other languages continues to rise, making Hoopla foreign language books an essential part of inclusive digital collections. Together, these growth areas show how Hoopla is aligning its future roadmap with real reader behavior and community needs.
Hoopla’s 2025 data makes one thing clear: digital lending is no longer a secondary service for libraries. It is central to how communities discover, consume, and stay connected to stories. The steady rise in borrowing across formats shows that libraries are responding effectively to modern reading habits, supported by growing Hoopla library partnerships that continue to expand access and scale.
For libraries, these trends reinforce the need to balance formats, genres, and languages while prioritizing frictionless access. Audiobooks, children’s content, and multilingual collections are no longer niche offerings. They are essential tools for engagement, inclusion, and long-term relevance. Platforms like Hoopla allow libraries to meet patrons where they are, without waitlists or barriers.
For publishers and authors, the message is equally important. Discovery does not happen in retail spaces alone. Library platforms now play a vital role in visibility, especially for series-driven genres, backlist titles, and independent voices. As digital lending continues to grow, Hoopla’s 2025 trends highlight a future where libraries remain powerful gateways to readership, cultural access, and sustained literary discovery.
Source: “Hoopla Digital Shares 2025 Trends, Growth Categories,” read more at Publishers Weekly.