Thrillers top library lists

Thrillers are proving popular among adult readers.

Napier Library's top books have been revealed with an author of thrillers proving popular among adult readers.

Lee Child's novels were three of the top five most popular adult fiction books for 2015, according to library collection management services team leader Emma Shepheard-Walwyn.

Child's thriller Personal was loaned 180 times, making it the most loaned book of fiction at the library.

His novels 61 Hours and The Affair were also on the top five list along with Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter and Jeffrey Archer's Best Kept Secret.

Ms Shepheard-Walwyn said adult fiction was by far the library's most popular collection.

The most issued book of adult non-fiction for 2015 was The Official New Zealand Road Code, followed by Annabel Langbein's The Free Range Cook.

The most popular book of junior fiction was the Disney Fairies Storybook Collection, attracting 86 loans.

The next two spots went to Geronimo Stilton's A Very Merry Christmas and Wedding Crasher.

Minecraft handbooks took out the top three junior non-fiction spots. Minecraft is an adventure video game.

JK Rowling's audiobooks were popular both among children and adults.

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars was the most sought after teen book, with 55 loans.

Hawke's Bay Today last week revealed the most popular items at Hastings District Libraries which also included Lee Child's Make Me, as well as Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train and Dan Carter: My Story.

Ms Shepheard-Walwyn said thriller was the most popular genre at the Napier Library with 2381 issues of books in the category in 2015. Next was mystery with 1652 loans. Issues of physical books were reducing slightly, while eBook and eAudio issues increased rapidly, Ms Shepheard-Walwyn said. The library was being used more for exhibitions, displays, book groups, talks, craft groups, Wi-Fi, technical assistance and holiday programmes. Use of online resources, such as online newspapers was popular while junior comics were also well read.