No U-turn back to libraries for code

It is No 1 on the missing book list for Auckland's 55 libraries. Photo / NZME.

The Road Code is speeding out of Auckland libraries - but it seems a one-way street when it comes to getting the books returned.

The Official New Zealand Road Code: Your guide to becoming a safe and responsible driver, 2013-2014 - which costs $25.50 from the Automobile Association - is required reading for anyone wanting to get behind the wheel.

But it's so popular it has been named No1 on the missing book list for Auckland's 55 libraries.

Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson, a vocal road safety campaigner, was pleased by the interest in the manual but said it was a shame that copies weren't being returned to libraries so other young Kiwis could benefit from its wisdom.

"We live in a weird time in history. Probably the only book anyone under the age of 30 is reading any more appears to be the Road Code, so it's natural it would be No1 in theft as well."

The list of top 10 missing books in the year to October showed a mix of adult and kids' books have disappeared from the shelves.

Maungakiekie: The Maori Pa on One Tree Hill, Auckland, by Aileen Fox, was runner-up, and Susan Gates' children's book Bill's Bouncy Shoes was third. If Only They'd Told Me, the book version of parenting blog and podcasts by Auckland mums Jacqueline Lockington and Natalie Cutler-Welsh, and Kia Ronaki: The Maori Performing Arts rounded out the top five.

Other top 10 finishers included tomes about New Zealand's involvement in World War I and early New Zealand's gumdiggers. Missing books, and other items such as DVDs, CDs and magazines, attract penalties and fines for being lost or overdue.

Auckland Libraries collected $1.47 million in penalties and fines in the year to October, up from $1.44m the previous year.

The number of books issued totalled 16.05 million in the year to October, down from 16.4 million the year before.