#   Cuyahoga County Public Library

### How One County Library in Ohio Achieved Digital Success with Flipster®

 

 

   

 

## At a Glance

  Cuyahoga County Public Library  
   Cuyahoga County, Ohio

 

Institution Type:  [Public Libraries](/public-libraries)  
 Related Products: [Flipster](https://flipster.ebsco.com/)

 

 

 

      ![cuyahoga county public library featured image    ](/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/cuyahoga-county-public-library-featured-image-300.png)  

## Overview

Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio, which includes 27 branches, aims to help its 600,000 citizens be more connected, informed and entertained through free access to library resources, programs and services. In an effort to provide users with easy-to-access digital content, the library launched *Flipster*®, EBSCO's online magazine newsstand, in June of 2016. In 2018, the library experienced more than 51,500 online views and nearly 94,000 downloads of *Flipster* magazines county-wide. Titles such as *People, Do It Yourself* and *New Old House* were the most popular.



[Request a Free Trial](https://flipster.ebsco.com/request-info)

 ![](/themes/custom/cog_ebsco/images/pullquote-icon.png) 

### I think it’s important for librarians to know that *Flipster* is a stress-free product that attracts new e-customers to your library.



 

  Melissa Barr

  Collection Development Specialist

  Cuyahoga County Public Library

 

 

 

 

 

## Challenges

The popularity of digital resources such as e-books and digital magazines prompted Cuyahoga County Public Library to initially purchase RBDigital’s (formerly Zinio) digital magazine platform. However, after some time passed, librarians realized the platform was very difficult for their patrons to access.

“When *Flipster* arrived it was a blessing,” said Melissa Barr, Collection Development Specialist. “It’s so easy to use, and the login process is virtually transparent to the user. That is a huge advantage over Zinio.”

Cuyahoga also wanted a platform that offered the magazines the was currently subscribing to in print form. According to Wendy Bartlett, Collection Development and Acquisitions Manager, *Flipster*’s wide selection of magazines also supported the decision to implement EBSCO’s platform.

“A lot of the magazines we offer in print, we also offer digitally through *Flipster*,” said Bartlett. “This has worked well because a couple of magazines have now gone digital only, so we can still offer them through *Flipster*.”

The library currently subscribes to 189 titles including must-have magazines such as *TIME, National Geographic* and *Us Weekly* and popular special interest magazines such as *Bicycling,* *Runner’s World* and *Yoga Journal*. To meet the needs of hobbyists and DIYers, the library subscribes to titles such as *Do It Yourself, The Family Handyman* and *Real Simple*. To bridge the gap between book and magazine readers, the library also offers magazines such as *Bookpage*, a monthly publication that offers reviews of new books with recommendations for every type of reader. [Check out a free sample.](https://more.ebsco.com/rs/689-LNQ-855/images/BookPage-Jan-2019-Flipster-Comp-Issue.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=all_c_ww&utm_campaign=all_inside_flipster_20190117&utm_content=bookpage-download)



 



## Solutions

Once the switch to *Flipster* was complete, Cuyahoga placed a free carousel of featured magazines on their website. Users can click the cover image, log in, and go right to the digital magazine of their choice. In addition, the library included an announcement in its email newsletter and quarterly program guide.

According to Bartlett, the beauty of digital magazines is the fact that they attract digital users without the library having to spend a lot of time and effort on marketing the service.

“We definitely have a big section of people who are digital users only, and they're extremely savvy,” Bartlett explained. “The minute we posted information about *Flipster* and the app, our users were on it like June bugs.”

Accessing *Flipster* is easy; all a library patron needs is a library card and an Internet connection. It’s also easy to browse and download magazines directly from the mobile app available for Apple® and Android™ devices.



 



## Benefits & Results

*Flipster* has been well-received by patrons, not only those who prefer digital resources but also senior citizens looking for resources that are available in a larger font.

“*Flipster*'s been very popular with our older seniors who have iPads,” said Bartlett. “*Flipster* enables them to enjoy reading their favorite magazine such as *The New Yorker* and *The Atlantic*.”

In addition, libraries in Cuyahoga County have seen a consistent increase in usage each month since the launch. In 2018, the library experienced more than 51,500 online views and nearly 94,000 magazine downloads county-wide.

According to both Barr and Bartlett, *Flipster* is a worry-free product that allows staff members to focus on servicing patrons’ needs and not addressing technical difficulties with vendors.

“I think it’s important for librarians to know that *Flipster* is a stress-free product that attracts new e-customers to your library,” Barr said. “When colleagues ask us whether their library should go with *Flipster*, the answer is easy. Yes. Absolutely.”



 



 

##  Ready to learn more? 

  

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