1st March 2024
Prince Harry’s Spare takes the crown in nationwide library survey
-
The Royal autobiography was Australia’s most borrowed book in 2023
-
Australian authors secure half of the Top 20 spots in Civica Spydus’ Annual Library Index
-
Comprehensive annual library survey, now in its eight year, analysed more than 25 million pieces of borrowing data across Australia
More than half the library books we borrowed in 2023 were penned by Australian authors, continuing an upward trend seen over the past three years. However, it was Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, which clinched the top spot as Australia’s most borrowed library book of the year.
Now in its eighth year, the Civica Libraries Index, looked at over 25 million pieces of borrowing data across regional and metropolitan libraries’s using Civica Spydus in Australia between January and December 2023.
Spare, Australia’s most borrowed book, delves into Prince Harry’s life and experiences. Following closely is Jane Harper’s Exiles, a bestselling novel exploring the profound impact of a mother's absence amidst the enchanting backdrop of South Australian wine country.
Biographies featuring prominently on readers' lists include Ash Barty’s My Dream Time, a celebration of community and the journey that led her to tennis history.
Popular Children's Reads: Anh Do and Jeff Kinney Dominate Fiction Borrowing
IAIN FINLAYSON,
MANAGING DIRECTOR LIBRARY AND EDUCATION AT CIVICA
It is brilliant to see that Australian authors have once again proved so popular with borrowers. This is a testament to the quality of our writers and creators and to the Australian publishing industry’s commitment to fostering local talent.
As a company, we’re also proud of the role we’re playing in helping to drive community engagement. Spydus, a global solution pioneered here in Australia, is helping more than 1,500 libraries across Australia and around the world adapt and thrive so they can continue to support and nurture the communities they serve.
Want to know more about Civica’s Library Management System, Spydus? Click here at Spydus Product Enquiry.
About The Civica Library Index
The Civica Libraries Index is compiled in partnership with participating libraries using the market leading Civica Spydus integrated library management system. Loan data is collected, compiled, and analysed for the calendar year for a range of audiences and categories. Civica reviewed more than 30 million library book loans across Australia to help determine the country’s most popular books. Data was gathered over a 12-month period from between January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. All information on borrowing behaviours is collected anonymously. Civica is Australia’s leading provider of library information, collection, and management solutions.
- Top 20
-
NB: The top 20 most borrowed books is a compilation of all the categories below (adult fiction, non-fiction, children fiction, biography, picture books and Australian).
As such, book rankings in each of the individual categories may differ from the overall rankings once the totals for each list are added.
- Spare - Prince Harry
- Exiles - Harper, Jane
- It starts with us - Hoover, Colleen
- No plan B - Child, Lee
- The bookbinder of Jericho - Williams, Pip
- Homecoming - Morton, Kate
- Desert star - Connelly, Michael
- The tilt - Hammer, Chris
- The soulmate - Hepworth, Sally
- Tasty weird! - Do, Anh
- Vote WeirDo - Do, Anh
- Soccer time! - Do, Anh
- The bad guys. Episode 16, The others?! - Blabey, Aaron
- Simply lies - Baldacci, David
- My dream time - Barty, Ash
- Did I ever tell you this?: a memoir - Neill, Sam
- The bullet that missed - Osman, Richard
- Weirdomania! - Do, Anh
- Just one thing: how simple changes can transform your life - Mosley, Michael
- Big shot - Kinney, Jeff
- Australian
-
- Exiles - Harper, Jane
- Homecoming - Morton, Kate
- The tilt - Hammer, Chris
- The soulmate - Hepworth, Sally
- The bookbinder of Jericho - Williams, Pip
- The orphans - McIntosh, Fiona
- The long weekend - Nunn, Judy
- The wrong sister - Palmer, Fiona
- Tasty weird! - Do, Anh
- Broad River station - McDonald, Fleur
- Biography
-
- Spare - Prince Harry
- My dream time - Barty, Ash
- Did I ever tell you this? a memoir - Neill, Sam
- I'm glad my mom died - McCurdy, Jennette
- Nothing bad ever happens here - Rose, Heather
- The happiest man on Earth - Jaku, Eddie
- Wifedom : Mrs. Orwell's invisible life - Funder, Anna
- Friends, lovers and the big terrible thing: a memoir - Perry, Matthew
- The light we carry: overcoming in uncertain times - Obama, Michelle
- Madly, deeply: the Alan Rickman diaries - Rickman, Alan
- Fiction - Adults
-
- Exiles - Harper, Jane
- No plan B - Child, Lee
- Desert star - Connelly, Michael
- Simply lies - Baldacci, David
- The bookbinder of Jericho - Williams, Pip
- The bullet that missed - Oseman Alice
- It starts with us - Hoover, Colleen
- The rising tide - Cleeves, Ann
- The tilt - Hammer, Chris
- The soulmate - Hepworth, Sally
- Fiction – Children
-
- Tasty weird! - Do, Anh
- Vote WeirDo - Do, Anh
- Weirdomania! - Do, Anh
- The bad guys. Episode 16, The others?! - Blabey, Aaron
- Soccer time! - Do, Anh
- Weird history! - Do, Anh
- Tool time! - Do, Anh
- The getaway - Kinney, Jeff
- Art time! - Do, Anh
- Rowley Jefferson's awesome friendly adventure - Kinney, Jeff
- Fiction – Young Adult
-
- It starts with us - Hoover, Colleen
- The deep end - Kinney, Jeff
- One piece - Oda, Eiichiro
- Never never - Hoover, Colleen
- Wrecking ball - Kinney, Jeff
- Big shot - Kinney, Jeff
- Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley’s journal - Kinney, Jeff
- Diper O¨verlo¨de - Kinney, Jeff
- The summer I turned pretty - Han, Jenny
- Hard luck - Kinney, Jeff
- Non-Fiction: Total
-
- Spare - Prince Harry
- Atomic habits: tiny changes, remarkable results: an easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones - Clear, James
- Just one thing: how simple changes can transform your life - Mosley, Michael
- Did I ever tell you this?: a memoir - Neill, Sam
- My dream time - Barty, Ash
- RecipeTin Eats dinner: 150+ recipes from Australia's favourite cook - Maehashi, Nagi
- Long shadows - Baldacci, David
- Barefoot kids: your epic money adventure! - Pape, Scott
- Nothing bad ever happens here - Rose, Heather
- The barefoot investor: the only money guide you'll ever need - Pape, Scott
- Picture Books
-
- Grannysaurus - Walliams, David
- The speedy sloth - Young, Rebecca
- Family tree - Pyke, Josh
- Pig the blob - Blabey, Aaron
- Bluey: Baby race - Bluey
- Bluey. Perfect - Bluey
- Give me some space - Bunting, Philip
- Hello, Emma Memma - Watkins, Emma
- Daddy Putdown - Bluey
- Do not open this book for eternity - Lee, Andy
About Spydus and Civica Libraries
The Spydus Integrated Library Management Solution is used by more than 1,500 libraries around the world. Our new Spydus SaaS version increases library efficiency by harnessing cloud technology. With the transition to Spydus SaaS after four decades of serving libraries, it now presents an impressive array of features. From user-friendly cataloguing tools to streamlined circulation processes, inventory management, patron oversight, and an integrated app, Spydus SaaS transforms library operations for the better.
Civica is a leading library management system provider for public libraries and education institutions across the world with customers across Australia, New Zealand, North America Singapore, and the UK. Interested to know more about Spydus, contact us today at Spydus Product Enquiry.