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Wollongong's Love Affair With Reading Soars As Libraries Top A Million Loans

We have crunched the numbers, checked our lists twice, and can confirm that it's been a great year of reading for Wollongong!

Wollongong City Libraries loans topped the 1 million mark for the first time this decade, with 1,002,330 books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs and magazines borrowed from the Local Government Area's seven libraries over the course of the year – the equivalent of 3,319 items borrowed every working day.

Australian authors dominated the ever-popular adult fiction category with Kate Morton claiming the crown of Wollongong's most borrowed book for her epic, generations-spanning mystery, Homecoming. Pip Williams held on to the number two spot for the second year with her exploration of history through women's eyes, The Bookbinder of Jericho, while Walkley-winning journalist turned best-selling author Trent Dalton claimed third spot with his coming-of-age saga, Lola in the Mirror.

Prince Harry's unflinching royal memoir Spare dominated the non-fiction category, closely followed by ABIA Biography of the Year-winner Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life by Anna Funder, and the highly anticipated memoir from pop icon Britney Spears, The Woman in Me.

For those with any doubts as to who won the battle of 'Barbenheimer', Barbie was the resounding champ, taking the top spot in the battle of DVD loans.

Junior readers loved evergreen series' including Harry Potter, Anh Do's WeirDo and Andy Griffiths' Treehouse books, and borrowed graphic novels by Dav Pilkey and Aaron Blabey by the truckload.

The library's littlest members loved Bluey, Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler's Have You Seen the Gruffalo, and musician Josh Pyke & Ronojoy Josh's Family Tree.

Reservations surpassed 200,000 for the first time, a whopping 30 per cent more than any previous year as library members become more comfortable with reserving items through the Wollongong City Libraries' online catalogue and app.

Digital loans also increased thanks in no small part to the popularity of the audiobook format, with a greater number and variety of titles available free to download through the library than ever before.

"It's been a wonderful year for reading, and these figures show that we're kicking goals when it comes to delivering the dynamic, customer-driven and inclusive library collection that our community wants," Wollongong City Council's Director of Community Services Kerry Hunt said.

"It's heartening to see library members borrowing across so many different formats. Many customers tell us that they love to read a book at night but enjoy listening to audiobooks while in the garden or doing their daily chores. It doesn't have to be one or the other."

Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said, "Our libraries are the heart of the community, and we want to see everyone using and benefiting from this great free service, especially when people are feeling the squeeze of the cost-of-living crisis. If you haven't stepped foot in a library for a few years, come on by. You might be surprised by what's on offer, it's free and easy to join, and, maybe best of all, there are no late fees."

Adult Fiction

  1. Homecoming by Kate Morton
  2. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
  1. Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
  1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  1. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman
  1. The Seven by Chris Hammer
  1. The Secret by Lee Child
  1. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
  1. What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
  1. The Women by Kristin Hannah
  1. The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
  1. Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran
  1. Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang
  1. Exiles by Jane Harper
  1. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Non-fiction

  1. Spare by Prince Harry
  2. Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's invisible life by Anna Funder
  1. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
  1. The Remarkable Mrs. Reibey by Grantlee Kieza
  1. Question 7 by Richard Flanagan

Australian Fiction

  1. Homecoming by Kate Morton
  1. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
  1. Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
  1. The Seven by Chris Hammer
  1. Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
  1. What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan
  1. Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran
  1. Exiles by Jane Harper
  2. Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor
  1. The 104-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
  1. Funny Kid: Snowballs by Matt Stanton

Junior Picture Books

  1. Have You Seen the Gruffalo? by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
  1. Family tree by Josh Pyke & Ronojoy Ghosh
  1. Pig the Star by Aaron Blabey
  1. Walk of the Whales by Nick Bland
  1. Pig the Rebel by Aaron Blabey
  1. How Do I Feel? by Lynley Dodd
  1. Where the Lyrebird Lives by Vikki Conley & Max Hamilton
  1. Iceberg by Claire Saxby & Jess Racklyeft

Graphic Novel, Junior

  1. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
  1. Dog Man 8: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey
  1. Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey
  1. The Bad Guys Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey

Graphic Novel, Adult & Young Adult

  1. Heartstopper Vol. 5 by Alice Oseman
  1. Heartstopper Vol. 4 by Alice Oseman
  1. Heartstopper Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman
  1. Heartstopper Vol. 2 by Alice Oseman
  1. The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman
  1. One piece Vol. 97: My Bible by Eiichirō Oda
  2. Heartstopper Vol. 3 by Alice Oseman

Music CD

  1. Lover by Taylor Swift
  1. Abbey Road by The Beatles
  1. Fearless: Taylor's version by Taylor Swift
  1. So Fresh: The Best Ever by Various Artists
  1. Rubber Soul by The Beatles
  1. Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin
  1. Barbie: The Album by Various Artists
  1. Speak Now: Taylor's Version by Taylor Swift
  1. Reputation by Taylor Swift
  1. Rockstar by Dolly Parton

E-loans

  1. Homecoming by Kate Morton
  1. The Bookbinder of Jericho by Pip Williams
  1. Spare by Prince Harry
  1. Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
  1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
  2. The Women by Kristin Hannah
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).View in full here.
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