Top five most borrowed children's authors from libraries

The joy of reading seems alive and kicking among the younger generation with five of the top ten most borrowed authors from UK libraries being children’s writers.

As libraries are closing and access to free book lending is diminishing, the latest data from the Public Lending Right (PLR) shows just how important libraries are in encouraging literacy and a love of books in children as well as adults.

The children’s authors featured in the top ten most borrowed are: the Daisy Meadows brand (2nd with the Rainbow Magic series), Jacqueline Wilson (4th), Horrid Henry author, Francesca Simon (5th), children’s laureate Julia Donaldson (7th) and Mick Inckpen (9th).

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, whose books include Tracy Beaker, is the UK’s most borrowed author of the past ten years with more than 16.5 million loans. She said: “Many children still love borrowing books. That’s why we need our excellent libraries, so that all children can have free access to a huge variety of books.”

And more children are borrowing library books. Children’s borrowing has been increasing for the past seven years with 96.8 million children’s books borrowed in 2010/11, compared with 89.9m in 2005/6 according to figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Children’s books represent almost 36% of all books borrowed.

The most borrowed adult's author in the UK is James Patterson, American author of book series such as Alex Cross and the Women’s Murder Club, who has achieved more than two million loans. Other adult authors featuring in the top ten most borrowed are: Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, MC Beaton and Clive Cussler.

Crime novels and thrillers are most popular with adult library goers, with all the top ten most borrowed books falling into these genres. Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol was the most borrowed book.

PLR ensures British authors gain an income from their books being borrowed from libraries in the UK and Europe and for the majority of authors this is the core part of their income. The rate per loan this year is 6.05p.