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Select authors’ group has staying power with HCTPL readers

Huntington City-Township Public Library employees hold up the two most popular books checked out in 2017.  Circulation Supervisor Kay Stine (left) holds a copy of “Two by Two” by Nicholas Sparks, which was the most checked-out adult fiction book, while Library Assistant-Acquisitions Deb Roy holds “Cross the Line” by James Patterson, the most popular adult large-print book. The Huntington and Markle library branches are already on track to break 200,000 in circulation for this year.
Huntington City-Township Public Library employees hold up the two most popular books checked out in 2017. Circulation Supervisor Kay Stine (left) holds a copy of “Two by Two” by Nicholas Sparks, which was the most checked-out adult fiction book, while Library Assistant-Acquisitions Deb Roy holds “Cross the Line” by James Patterson, the most popular adult large-print book. The Huntington and Markle library branches are already on track to break 200,000 in circulation for this year. Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Originally published Feb. 15, 2018.

When it comes to what Huntington City-Township Public Library patrons enjoy reading most, a select group of authors proves they have the staying power when it comes to the most checked-out reading materials of 2017. But look out, books – graphic novels are finding a lot of popularity among readers.

Deb Roy, the library assistant in charge of acquisitions, says the most checked-out book last year was “Two by Two,” by Nicholas Sparks. That title, found in adult fiction, was checked out 52 times. The second-most checked-out title was “Never Never,” by James Patterson.

Patterson also took the top spot among adult fiction large print book checkouts with “Cross the Line,” at 19 checkouts.

“Which is not bad for one copy,” Roy adds, “When you figure that it goes out for two or three weeks at a time, and there’s only 52 weeks in a year, but it’s been checked out at least 19 of the 26 possible times that it could have been checked out for two weeks. That’s a book that didn’t spend a lot of time on the shelf this year.”

Having multiple copies of a popular book on the HCTPL shelves helped them climb in the numbers, such as “Two by Two,” which had three or four copies that could be snagged by readers. Roy says it might be difficult to predict the No. 1 most popular book. It tends to be the same authors from year to year.

“That’s why you always see the same five to 10 authors on the list from year to year,” she explains. “They publish their new best-seller and we have to buy three or four copies of it, and of course those copies build up all those ‘circs,’ so that’s what you’re going to see on that list.”

Roy adds that there is a more varied mix of authors in the large print list, since there is usually only one book of each title that can be checked out.

Last year marked the first full year that the library has offered graphic novels (also referred to as comic books) for checkout. Roy says the library has been building its collection the last couple of years, with this past year showing a marked interest in adult, teen and juvenile titles.

“‘The Walking Dead Book 13’ is the top circulating one, which doesn’t surprise us,” Roy says. “But there are two Star Wars titles in the top 10, and then after that there’s some Manga and there is some Aquaman, Nightwing and the usual superhero stuff. In young adult novels there’s the same kind of mix.”

One of the things about the top 10 list that surprises Roy is the number of older titles that remain popular year after year. For example, in teen fiction, “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, has been out for years, but still finds popularity among teen readers, hitting No. 1 in the young adult with 26 checkouts in 2017. It shared the same number of circs as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” by J.K. Rowling.

“It’s interesting to see what older titles, especially in teens and young children, circulate over and over again,” Roy says.

The Huntington and Markle branches saw a combined circulation of 186,000 last year. HCTPL is setting a goal for 200,000 this year, issuing its checkout challenge for patrons to check out multiple items at once. The 2018 Checkout Challenge offers patrons a chance to win prizes for every 25 books, magazines, movies, CDs or anything else they check out of the library. If they check out 20 items at one time they’ll get a free tote bag.

There are tally logs available that can be used as entry forms for a monthly prize drawing and a grand prize drawing of an iPod at the conclusion of the program, which runs through December. The more logs readers fill out, the better their chances are of winning.
Already, January’s circulation was up and was on track to hit the 200,000 mark, overshooting its monthly goal by more than 300 circs.
“We’re letting people (read) whatever they want – no rules,” Roy says.

“If they’re in summer reading club they can count the books on this, and they can also count it on their summer reading club,” adds Circulation Manager Kay Stine. “You can count a book many ways.”

Stine says readers can also get a bead on what other local patrons are checking out by perusing the return carts, which are now easily accessible.

“There’s one in Adult, one in Young Adult and one in Children’s (departments) if you want to know what’s popular and what other people are reading,” Stine says. “It may not be new; it may not be something on a list. If it’s just returned that day it will be put up here before it’s shelved, so people can see what other people are reading … They think if somebody else had it, it’s going to be good.”
Here are the top five books checked out in 2017 in each collection:

ADULT TITLES
Adult graphic novels
1. The Walking Dead Book 13, by Robert Kirkman.
2. Star Wars: Han Solo, by Marjorie M. Liu.
3. Fruits Basket 1, by Natsuki Takaya.
4. Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 1, by Akiko Higashimura.
5. Fruits Basket 3, by Natsuki Takaya.

Adult fiction
1. Two by Two, by Nicholas Sparks.
2. Never Never, by James Patterson.
3. 16th Seduction, by James Patterson.
4. The Fix, by David Baldacci.
5. Camino Island, by John Grisham.

Large print
1. Cross the Line, by James Patterson.
2. Golden Prey, by John Sandford.
3. When All the Girls Have Gone, by Jayne Ann Krentz.
4. The Proving, by Beverly Lewis.
5. Falling Like Snowflakes, by Denise Hunter.

Paperback collection
1. No Charm Intended, by Mollie Cox Bryan.
2. A Duke: A Devil’s Duke, by Katharine Ashe.
3. On the Chase, by Katie Ruggle.
4. Monster in the Closet, by Karen Rose.
5. Highland Flame, by Mary Wine.

Adult non-fiction
1. The Magnolia Story, by Chip Gaines.
2. Taste of Home: Annual Recipes, by Taste of Home Magazine.
3. The Whole 30, by Melissa Hartwig.
4. Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance.
5. The Whole 30 Cookbook, by Melissa Hartwig.

Adult DVDs
1. The Magnificent Seven.
2. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
3. Inferno.
4. Sully.
5. Rogue One.

Music CDs
1. Platinum Collection: Greatest Hits I, II and III, by Queen.
2. Here’s to the Good Times, by Florida Georgia Line.
3. The Best of Aerosmith, by Aerosmith.
4. The Very Best Of, by the Eagles.
5. Reloaded: 20 No. 1 Hits, by Blake Shelton.

Videogames
1. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.
2. New Super Mario Bros. Wii.
3. Batman, Arkham Asylum.
4. Mario Party 9.
5. Portal 2.

TEEN TITLES
Young adult graphic novels
1. Vampire Knight, by Matsuri Hino.
2. MAR: Marchen Awakens Romance, by Nobuyuki Anzai.
3. The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman.
4. Wolverine: The Complete Collection, by Jason Aaron.
4. Tokyo Ghoul, Volume 1, by Sui Ishida.

Young adult fiction
1. The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J.K. Rowling.
3. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two, by Jack Thorne.
4. The Fault In Our Stars, by John Green.
5. The Dark Prophecy, by Rick Riordan.

CHILDREN’S TITLES
Easy graphic novels
1. Is that Wise, Pig? By Jan Thomas.
2. Space Justice! By Trey King.
3. We are Growing! By Mo Willems.
4. The Fun Book of Scary Stuff, by Emily Jenkins.
5. Reptile Rumble! by Billy Wrecks.

Juvenile graphic novels
1. Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey.
2. The Truth about Stacey, by Ann M. Martin.
3. Kristy’s Great Idea, by Ann M. Martin.
4. Ghosts, by Raina Telgemeier.
5. Disney Princess comics Treasury, by Regis Maine.

Juvenile fiction
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down, by Jeff Kinney.
2. Old School, by Jeff Kinney.
3. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.
4. Rodrick Rules, by Jeff Kinney.
5. The Long Haul, by Jeff Kinney.

Picture books – fiction
1. Clifford’s Birthday Party, by Norman Bridwell.
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.
3. Pete the Cat and his Magic Sunglasses, by James Dean.
4. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, by Eric Litwin.
5. The Thank You Book, by Mo Willems.

Picture books – non fiction
1. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin.
2. What Does it Mean to be Kind? By Rana DiOrio.
3. The Boy Who Cried Wolf, by B.G. Hennessy.
4. The Elves and the Shoemaker, by Jim LaMarche.
5. Farm Tractors, by Matt Doeden.

Juvenile non-fiction
1. The LEGO Ideas Book: Unlock Your Imagination, by Daniel Lipkowitz.
2. Minecraft: Redstone Handbook, by Nick Farwell.
3. Minecraft Essential Handbook, by Stephanie Milton.
4. Ultimate Oceanpedia, by Christina Wilsdon.
5. Ultimate Weird but True! 3, by National Geographic.

Juvenile DVDs
1. Storks.
2. Moana.
3. The Secret Life of Pets.
4. Zootopia.
5. Finding Dory.

Juvenile CDs
1. Classic Disney 60 Years of Musical Magic.
2. Now That’s What I Call Disney 2.
3. Now That’s What I Call Disney.
4. Now That’s What I Call Disney Princess.
5. Aladdin.

Spanish Titles
1. Soccer Star! = Estrella De Futbol, by Maria Dominguez.
2. My Colors = Mis Colores, by Rebecca Emberley.
3. Un Pez, Dos Peces, Pez Rojo, Pez Azul, by Dr. Seuss.
4. Arrival, by Ted Chiang.
5. Spanish Every Day: A Learning Adventure for Young Readers, by William C. Harvey.