Wollongong’s love affair with reading soars as libraries top a million loans

Thursday 19 December 2024

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.”