Lists: The Most Borrowed Library Books and Authors in UK 2011-2012; Children’s Library Borrowing Continues to Increase

From Public Lending Right (PDF):

British crime and thriller writers are being bumped off by their American counterparts, according to the  latest league table of the Most Borrowed Adult Fiction Titles in UK libraries, released today by Public Lending Right on the eve of National Libraries Day.

No less than 17 novels by US-based crime and thriller writers appear in the Top 20 Most Borrowed Adult Fiction Titles list. Nine of them were written, or co-written by James Patterson, including the Most Borrowed Title of 2011/12, 10th Anniversary.

For the sixth year running, James Patterson also retains his crown as the UK’s Most Borrowed Author. In total, ten US-based authors writing in the crime and thriller genres appear in the Top 20 Most Borrowed  Authors list. Only MC Beaton, Ian Rankin and Agatha Christie represent UK crime and thriller writers.

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UK’s 20 Most Borrowed Adult Fiction Authors, 2011/12

1. James Patterson 
2. Nora Roberts
3. MC Beaton
4. Danielle Steel
5. Clive Cussler
6. Anna Jacobs
7. Lee Child
8. David Baldacci
9. Michael Connelly
10. Harlan Coben
11. Katie Flynn
12. Tess Gerritsen
13. Josephine Cox
14. Alexander McCall Smith
15. John Grisham
16. Jodi Picoult
17. JD Robb
18. Jeffrey Deaver
19. Agatha Christie
20. Ian Rankin

UK’s 10 Most Borrowed Adult Fiction Authors, 1982/83

1. Catherine Cookson
2. Victoria Holt
3. Barbara Cartland
4. Dorothy Eden
5. Evelyn Anthony
6. JT Edson
7. Margaret Pargeter
8. Danielle Steel
9. Harold Robbins
10. James Herriot

The crown for the most “evergreen” author in UK libraries over the past 30 years also belongs to an American writer. Danielle Steel is the only name to appear in every annual Top 10 Most Borrowed  Adult Fiction Authors list for the past three decades.

More in this Announcement from PLR (PDF):

The crucial role played by libraries in encouraging children to read  is also confirmed by the latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy  (CIPFA) which show that children’s fiction borrowing from UK libraries has risen for the past seven years.

81.8 million children’s fiction titles were borrowed during 2011/12, up from 74 million in 2005/06. Children’s books now represent 37.4% of all books borrowed, up from 35.9% last year.

Learn More About PDF here (PDF) and on their website.

Note: The Guardian provides access to lists containing the Top 100 Titles and Top 100 Authors. Data is also downloadable.

Coverage

James Patterson tops library lending chart (via BBC)

Borrow or Steel? Romance writer Danielle Steel on UK-wide library ’10 most-borrowed list’ every year since records began (via The Independent)

Library readers still in love with Danielle Steel after 30 years (via The Guardian)