It’s notable that Pucci gained on-the-ground experience before joining the team of a vendor. That gives her valuable perspective when making decisions at Hoopla. I wanted to find out more about her thoughts on how young people read today and what she thinks public libraries can do to best reach their teen patrons. Our conversation has been edited for clarity.

NewsBreaks: What did you enjoy most about being a teen librarian?

Pucci: I loved seeing how creative teens were. As a teen librarian and programmer, I planned engaging activities such as Teen Art Club, Writers Club, and book clubs at the local middle school. I enjoyed providing craft materials and watching the teens create unique pieces and express themselves. I also loved fostering a love of reading, especially during summer reading programs, and helping teens discover books they were excited about.

NewsBreaks: What has it been like moving from the library side to the vendor side of the field?

Pucci: I love that I am still supporting lifelong learning by working at a company that can provide libraries with such a convenient tool for their communities to be able to access books. While working at the library, I was able to advise readers one-on-one. Now, at Hoopla, I am still suggesting titles, but on a much larger scale! I think I have been a great asset to our marketing team in sharing my insights on libraries and how librarians work.

NewsBreaks: What genres are good entry points for getting teens interested in reading, and why?

Pucci: Teens often dive into stories of adventure and fantasy because they enjoy the fast-paced and imaginary worlds. Graphic novels are huge in getting kids into reading as well. I am a firm believer that graphic novels give teens that engagement they need to keep reading, which then turns into them reading larger series. 

NewsBreaks: How has the expanded availability of ebooks, digital comics, and audiobooks changed the data you’re seeing? What format do today’s teens prefer?

Pucci: Having a variety of formats is such an asset because everyone reads at different levels and has different preferences. One of my favorite memories as a librarian was helping a teen and her mom discover Hoopla and the wide array of audiobooks available. The teen was dyslexic and had already listened to nearly every audiobook on CD that we had in the library. We showed her and her mom how to access audiobooks through Hoopla, and they were so excited to discover so many new titles she could enjoy. It was a great reminder of how important accessible formats are in helping everyone experience the joy of reading. 

I think preferences will differ for everyone, but I have always appreciated how Hoopla complements their physical collection. For example, Attack on Titan, a popular manga series, was hard to find at the library because copies were frequently checked out or ended up lost. Through Hoopla, we could often help teens access the next volume in the series right away instead of having to wait for the physical copy to be returned or replaced. It was a great way to ensure that readers could continue enjoying a series without interruption.

NewsBreaks: Are you seeing digital access have an effect on teens’ attitudes toward what books they’ll pick up? How does the private feeling of digital affect their borrowing habits?

Pucci: Libraries are for everyone, and teens are learning about themselves every day. Books are one of the safest ways for teens to explore identity, emotions, and life experiences, offering perspective without judgment. Digital books offer that same reassurance: They can dive into topics that they are curious about, but that may be difficult to ask for in person. Caregivers should be aware of what their teen is reading, but books are always a wonderful resource to explore.

NewsBreaks: Based on Hoopla Digital’s borrowing data, is there anything else you’d like to share about how teens are engaging with reading in general?

Pucci: Looking at our top titles for ebooks, audiobooks, and comics, many of the most popular titles this year are geared toward teens and younger readers. In 2025, The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Dog Man, Big Nate, and Smile all appeared in the top five across these formats. While we know adults enjoy these titles as well, their popularity suggests that teens are likely using Hoopla to access these materials. It highlights how digital platforms can play an important role in meeting teens where they are and giving them convenient access to the books and series they enjoy.

NewsBreaks: What’s the most important thing youth services librarians can do to encourage teens to read? 

Pucci: I found that simply being available for conversation often made a difference. Sometimes, offering low-pressure programming, like bringing teens together for an art project, naturally led them to check out a book or ask whether we had a specific title available. We never pushed reading on them; we just made books visible and accessible. Peer recommendations played a big role too. One teen might check out a book and then head into the program room to show the series they were reading to a friend, which helped spark interest and excitement around reading.