Crime novels top of most borrowed list
Meghan Harris talks with library staff about the most popular books
WITH thousands of books borrowed each week at the Toowoomba City Library, there is no doubt Toowoomba residents love to read.
According to the 2017 Civica Libraries Index, which is Australia’s leading library system, crime, thriller and mystery genres dominated the list of most borrowed books in Australia.
This continues on from last year’s trend and the Toowoomba City Library also had similar results.
The 16th Seduction by James Patterson is the library’s most borrowed book at the moment in the adult-fiction category.
Mr Patterson also takes out the top spot in eAudiobook fiction with his crime novel Never Never.
City librarian Carmel Stuart said anything he published came in a number of formats because he was so popular.
“We have him in physical collections, large print, audio, eBook - he covers the whole range,” she said.
“He is also on our fast back loans list, where you have to be a speed reader to borrow them.
“You can’t renew or reserve fast back books and can only rent them for a week.
“Patterson is always on that list because his books are so popular but we have so many veracious readers who devour books quickly.”
Other top books at our library include The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape, Double Down by Jeff Kinney, Work Strife Balance by Mia Freedman, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Lion by Saroo Brierley.
Ms Stuart said a number of things could influence the most borrowed books.
“Definitely the top seller list in any newspaper have an effect on the most borrowed,” she said.
“Other factors are if people are discussing it on radio or television and if a movie or tv series is coming out,” she said.
“The top books change weekly and you have to be able to predict what trends are coming to make sure we are well stocked.”
Young people’s librarian Angela Morgan said amine and comics were huge with young Toowoomba readers.
“The city’s youth has a strong amine and manga culture. Teens just devour our stock,” she said.
“There is also a massive lust for comics and every year they top the popular youth list.”
Ms Morgan said she also found that the younger
generations tended to read paper books, as opposed to older workers and travellers who preferred eBooks and eAudiobooks.
Ms Stuart agreed and said it was important for people to still connect with physical books.
“Physical collections are really important. There is a lot of digital awareness in this modern age,” she said.
“We see children on phones and ipads and I think parents realise children need contact with books because there is enough digital.
“Teenagers are always on their phones so reading something in paper form is a break from a bright screen.
“People who are travelling a lot or who lead busy working lives tend to go for the digital forms because they are quick and easy to access.”
The Toowoomba City Library has 1000 people through its doors every day and has had a 35% increase in membership and visitors since opening at the new location in February last year.