Details of the 20 books and authors borrowed most often from Irish public libraries in 2018 have been published by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which compiles the information as part of the Public Lending Remuneration (PLR) Scheme.
All 20 of the most borrowed titles were children’s books, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling topping the list. Meanwhile, 19 of the 20 most borrowed authors in 2018 were children’s authors, with only James Patterson bucking the trend to make the list.
James Patterson topped the list of the 20 most popular authors from the adult books collection, while Irish author, Mike McCormack’s Solar Bones was the most borrowed adult book in 2018. Four of the top five most borrowed books for adults in 2018 are by Irish authors: Mike McCormack, Graham Norton, Liz Nugent and Marian Keyes.
A number of titles included in the adult top 20 are from the ‘Healthy Ireland at Your Library’ collection, which is available in all public libraries to support the Government Initiative to improve health and wellbeing.
Tom Enright, Chair of the National Libraries Development Committee said, “Encouraging children to read for enjoyment and learning is central to Our Public Libraries 2022, the national Public Library Strategy, so I am very encouraged to see so many children’s books and authors on the list.”
“The Irish public library collection has over 12 million items available to you completely free, and we are inviting everybody, young and old, to explore what’s on offer,” Tom Enright said.
“Whether you want to come in to your library to browse for a book, use the internet, make use of digital equipment, enjoy the community space and wide range of activities, or you would prefer to download an audiobook, eBook, or online newspaper or magazine from your own home, it is all open to you completely free with your library membership,” Tom Enright concluded.
Top 20 Authors Borrowed in Irish Public Libraries 2018
1
Roderick Hunt
2
Roger Hargreaves
3
Daisy Meadows
4
Francesca Simon
5
Julia Donaldson
6
James Patterson
7
Enid Blyton
8
Roald Dahl
9
Jacqueline Wilson
10
Dorling Kindersley (Publisher)
11
David Walliams
12
Jeff Kinney
13
Michael Morpurgo
14
Adam Blade
15
J.K. Rowling
16
Dav Pilkey
17
Holly Webb
18
Liz Pichon
19
Rachel Renee Russell
20
Dr Seuss
Top 20 Books Borrowed in Irish Public Libraries 2018
1
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
J.K. Rowling
2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School
Jeff Kinney
3
The BFG
Roald Dahl
4
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K. Rowling
5
Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban
J.K. Rowling
6
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down
Jeff Kinney
7
Awful Auntie
David Walliams
8
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck
Jeff Kinney
9
Wonder
R.J. Palacio
10
James and the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl
11
Ratburger
David Walliams
12
Matilda
Roald Dahl
13
The world's Worst Children
David Walliams
14
Gangsta Granny
David Walliams
15
Fantastic Mr Fox
Roald Dahl
16
Demon Dentist
David Walliams
17
Diary of a Wimpy: The Third Wheel
Jeff Kinney
18
Grandpa's Great Escape
David Walliams
19
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever
Jeff Kinney
20
Under the Hawthorn Tree
Marita Conlon-McKenna
Adult books - Top 20 Authors Borrowed in Irish Public Libraries 2018
James Patterson
Nora Roberts
Danielle Steel
Lee Child
Anthony Horowitz
John Grisham
David Baldacci
Michael Connelly
John Boyne
Sheila OFlanagan
Emma Hannigan
Roddy Doyle
Jo Nesbo
Harlan Coben
Clive Gifford
Jojo Moyes
John Connolly
Susan Lewis
Stephen King
Cathy Kelly
Adult Books - Top 20 Books Borrowed in Irish Public Libraries 2018
Solar Bones
Mike McCormack
Holding
Graham Norton
Lying in Wait
Liz Nugent
Guinness World Records 2018
Guinness World Records 2018
The Break
Marian Keyes
The Midnight Line: (Jack Reacher 22)
Lee Child
Woman in the Window
A J Finn
The Long Gaze Back: An Anthology of Irish Women Writers
Edited by Sinead Gleeson
Skin Deep
Liz Nugent
The plan
Aoife Hearne
Night School: (Jack Reacher 21)
Lee Child
The couple next door
Shari Lapena
All the Light We Cannot See
Anthony Doerr
Karl Henry's Healthy Living Handbook
Karl Henry
Driver Theory Test
Road Safety Authority
The Wrong Side of Goodbye
Michael Connelly
Days Without End
Sebastian Barry
Mindful Walking: Walk Your Way to Mental and Physical Well-Being
Hugh O’Donovan
The Whistler
John Grisham
Smile
Roddy Doyle