Details of the 20 books and authors borrowed most often from Irish public libraries in 2018 have just 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.

Irish author, Mike McCormack’s novel 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. The 2018 featured book in the Dublin: One City One Book Festival was The Long Gaze Back – An Anthology of Irish Women Writers edited by Sinéad Gleeson, this ranks at number eight in the most borrowed adult books.

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.”

“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.”

Full details of the most borrowed authors and books are available below.

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:

1. James Patterson
2. Nora Roberts
3. Danielle Steel
4. Lee Child
5. Anthony Horowitz
6. John Grisham
7. David Baldacci
8. Michael Connelly
9. John Boyne
10. Sheila OFlanagan
11. Emma Hannigan
12. Roddy Doyle
13. Jo Nesbo
14. Harlan Coben
15. Clive Gifford
16. Jojo Moyes
17. John Connolly
18. Susan Lewis
19. Stephen King
20. Cathy Kelly

Adult Books – Top 20 Books Borrowed in Irish Public Libraries 2018

1. Solar Bones – Mike McCormack
2. Holding – Graham Norton
3. Lying in Wait – Liz Nugent
4. Guinness World Records 2018 – Guinness World Records 2018
5. The Break – Marian Keyes
6. The Midnight Line: (Jack Reacher 22) – Lee Child
7. Woman in the Window – A J Finn
8. The Long Gaze Back: An Anthology of Irish Women Writers – Edited by Sinead Gleeson
9. Skin Deep – Liz Nugent
10. The plan – Aoife Hearne
11. Night School: (Jack Reacher 21) – Lee Child
12. The Couple Next Door – Shari Lapena
13. All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
14. Karl Henry’s Healthy Living Handbook – Karl Henry
15. Driver Theory Test – Road Safety Authority
16. The Wrong Side of Goodbye – Michael Connelly
17. Days Without End – Sebastian Barry
18. Mindful Walking: Walk Your Way to Mental and Physical Well-Being  –  Hugh O’Donovan
19. The Whistler – John Grisham
20. Smile – Roddy Doyle