I Kid you not book reading is on the up..
Children’s titles most borrowed from libraries
READING is on the rise for youngsters with new figures showing kids are using libraries more than adults.
All but two of the top 20 mostborrowed titles last year were children’s books, the Local Government Management Agency revealed.
The most popular title among readers was Double Down – the 11th book in the best-selling Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series by US author Jeff Kinney.
The other titles in the top 10 were the My Mr Men Complete Collection (2nd); Wonder by R J Palacio (4th) and Bad Dad by David Walliams (10th).
The only adult novels to break the stranglehold of children’s authors on the list of most-borrowed books were Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (11th) and Skin Deep by Liz Nugent (19th) – one of three books by Irish authors in the Top 20.
The others were Marita Conlonmckenna’s Under The Hawthorn Tree (18th) and Bumpfizzle The Best On Planet Earth by Patricia Forde (20th).
Topping the list of most-borrowed authors for the third year in a row was Roderick Hunt, author of the Magic Key series aimed at young children.
Coming a close second was Roger Hargreaves, author of the Mr Men series and Daisy Meadows, the collective pseudonym for a number of authors who write the Rainbow Magic series.
Details of the most borrowed books and authors from Irish libraries have been compiled by the LGMA in advance of its first National Library Open Day next Saturday.
Libraries across the country will showcase the range of events and activities they offer on a regular basis.
Chairman of the National Libraries Development Committee Tom Enright said: “Whether you want to borrow books, 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, it’s all available to you completely free with your library membership.”