Which books are borrowed from a library like this? A snapshot of use at Pontarddulais library…by Susan Mends

For our blog takeover topic, we’ve been reviewing the data we have about which books have been borrowed from Pontarddulais library as well as looking in a bit more detail at many of the books taken out by regular users during the week beginning 7th-14th June. We’ve also chatted to local readers about their selections whenever possible, asking them why they've chosen what they have, whether the author, subject or genre are new to them or if they are returning to old favourites. The photos show the range of books taken out by local readers and their continued interest in borrowing.

The library is at the heart of the community in Pontarddulais and further serves as a focal point for neighbouring villages. Its onsite presence continues to be important too. While the temporary loss of the physical space has had an impact, we've been encouraged by the public use of the library during the past ten months or so. (Compliant with Covid restrictions) many familiar faces have returned to use our services and we are meeting new members for the first time who joined us online during each lockdown, attracted by our ebook and eaudiobook collections.

So, what’s been borrowed this week?  

Welsh language adult fiction – Like all libraries in Swansea, you will find a great selection of Welsh fiction for adults here. The library regularly updates the collection with the latest offerings from Welsh-language publishers. Turning to the most popular Welsh fiction authors and topping the list, the author of Allez Les Gallois, Yr Eumenides, and Arwyr, Daniel Davies.  

• Daniel Davies  

• John Alwyn Griffiths 

• Elinor Wyn Reynolds 

• Bethan Gwanas  

• Gwynn ap Gwilym  

Welsh language junior fiction – Author of the highly successful reading series which introduced the well-loved character Sali Mali character to thousands, Mary Vaughan Jones is the number one Welsh children’s author ‘in Bont’ this week.

The remainder of the fiction list includes humorous and much-admired translations from languages other than Welsh.   

• Mary Vaughan Jones  

• Heather Amery 

• Caryl Hart 

• David Melling 

• Alex T Smith 

English language adult fiction - We can reveal that Danielle Steel is the most borrowed author in the English language this week. An extremely popular choice and yet as James Patterson is usually at the top of the library charts each time we run a check, this came as a bit of a shock, I can tell you! (What do you think makes James Patterson, 'the world’s best-selling author’, such a success?) Not that Ms Steel has any concerns; according to the website Fantastic Fiction, she ‘has sold 650 million copies of her books internationally, and every one … a bestseller.’ Taking a closer look at the figures can change commonly held perceptions though.

Crime and thriller authors are often viewed as the most popular genre in Pontarddulais but as you can see, it is the romance and saga writers, Steel, Anna Jacobs and Dilly Court, who dominate the top 5.  

• Danielle Steel   

• James Patterson  

• Anna Jacobs  

• David Baldacci 

• Dilly Court 

English language teen fiction – each one of the authors heading the English teen fiction category has developed a crowd-pleasing series. Collins wrote The Hunger Games, the book which introduced us all to Katniss, the Capitol and the annual lottery selected slaying event. 

• Suzanne Collins 

• Sarah J Maas 

• Taran Matharu 

• Philip Pullman 

• Ransom Riggs 

English language junior fiction - what is popular ‘in Bont’ now mirrors general English language children’s literature borrowing right across the whole of the UK. Daisy Meadows, a made-up name for a collection of authors and illustrators, came on top of the British Library’s most borrowed authors list showing the most loaned out books in UK libraries (2018/2019). This latest result from the Public Lending Right office pretty much mirrors the list of winners from the past ten years. 

We’ve found our bright red book bags, jam packed full of a pre-selection that includes classic favourites and books from new and diverse authors are all the rage with families looking to grab and go! 

• Daisy Meadows 

• Julia Donaldson 

• Liz Pichon 

• Fiona Watt 

• David Walliams 

English and Welsh language adult non-fiction – only in a library can ‘family relationships’ sit alongside ‘language learning’, ‘gardening’, ‘travel literature’ and ‘philosophical plays’! Writer and foster carer Cathy Glass is at the top of this list. The first of her books about a child she had fostered instantly became a bestseller in 2007.  

• Cathy Glass 

• Heini Gruffydd 

• Simon Akeroyd 

• Bill Bryson 

• J. B. Priestley 

English and Welsh language junior non-fiction – Anita Ganeri has authored so many non-fiction books for children, including the award-winning series Horrible Geography, perhaps it’s no shock to find the writer at our number one spot. Natural, social, and physical history have been very popular subjects with children and young people during the pandemic. We also have access to the Reading Well for Children scheme in Bont to help children manage their health and wellbeing.  

• Anita Ganeri 

• Stephen Backshall 

• Terry Deary 

• Mari C. Schuh 

• Elin Meek 

Online services - Library members in Swansea have been provided with a wide range of free online services for quite some time.  

However, you might be aware of the increase in demand libraries have experienced in all communities for ebooks, eaudiobooks and emagazines during this past year. Staff in the service look at what’s popular here too and many in the library profession and publishing industry are interested to see if ebook and eaudiobook borrowing follow the same pattern as traditional borrowing. 

Notables this month, J. K. Rowling dominates the first four out of five slots in the e-audio children’s chart. While the crime genre tops adult ebooks:  

• Long Road to Mercy, David Baldacci 

• Hidden in Plain Sight, Jeffrey Archer 

• Coffinmaker’s Garden, Stuart MacBride 

• Pact, Amy Heydenrych 

• Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace, Kate Forster 

Tom Palmer’s Off Side takes the fifth slot in children’s ebooks, highlighting the influence of the Euros upon reading habits possibly? Suzanne Collins is one of the few ‘crossover’ authors to be popular with users visiting Pontarddulais and borrowers using online services (eaudio young adult and young adult ebooks).  

Now you’ve had a flavour of the popular books borrowed from Pontarddulais library.

Visiting the library or accessing the online services will give you entrance into world with a far greater range of resources than these charts can begin to show. We look forward to helping you navigate your way through.

Susan Mends