The Bundaberg Regional Libraries had a successful 2023 with 26,391 current members turning book pages or enjoying digital reading.
The libraries’ saw 592,829 loans throughout the year, comprised of 498,037 physical items and 94,792 downloads of digital items.
The Bundaberg and Childers libraries saw 192,290 visitors pass through their facilities.
The new free streaming service hoopla was launched during the year, giving members access to over 1.2 million titles.
During the year the libraries provided 496 public programs for the community to enjoy, with 14,924 people attending the events.
Highlights for the year were the popular author talks, featuring well-known Australian writers, Chris Hammer, Fleur McDonald, Fiona McArthur and Kim McCosker.
Celebrating a successful year of Book Club, an afternoon tea was held in early December with members invited to join in.
The libraries serviced 32 book groups, with 166 sets of 10 books being lent out.
Top 10 books borrowed in 2023
The region has voted adult fiction mystery/thrillers as the most popular genre, with all top 10 books loaned from Bundaberg and Childers falling into this category.
The Gin Gin community also supported the adult fiction mystery/thrillers genre, but one children’s book, A New Gemini by Anh Do, made it into their top ten books.
The number one book borrowed from Bundaberg library was the Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch series novel, Desert Star by Michael Connolly.
Childers and Gin Gin Libraries readers’ most borrowed book for 2023 was No Plan B by Lee Child from the Jack Reacher series.
Bundaberg Library Top 10
- Connolly, Michael – Desert Star
- Child, Lee – No Plan B
- Baldacci, David – Long Shadows
- Child, Lee – Better Off Dead
- Baldacci, David – Dream Town
- Baldacci, David – The 6:20 Man
- Child, Lee – The Sentinel
- Connolly, Michael – The Dark Hours
- Connolly, Michael – Fair warning
- Grisham, John – The Boys from Biloxi
Childers Library Top 10
- Child, Lee – No Plan B
- Coben, Harlan – I Will Find You
- Connolly, Michael – Desert Star
- Baldacci, David – Simply Lies
- Baldacci, David – Long Shadows
- Patterson, James – The Perfect Assassin
- Grisham, John – Sparring Partners
- Patterson, James – Triple Cross
- Grisham, John – The Boys from Biloxi
- Box, C.J. – Treasure State
Gin Gin Library Top 10
- Child, Lee – No Plan B
- Do, Anh – A New Gemini
- Coben, Harlan – I Will Find You
- Baldacci, David – Long Shadows
- Baldacci, David – Simply Lies
- Connolly, Michael – Desert Star
- Baldacci, David – The 6:20 Man
- Patterson, James – The Perfect Assassin
- Grisham, John – The Boys from Biloxi
- Patterson, James – Shattered
Bundaberg Regional Libraries Christmas Closures:
Bundaberg: close Friday 22 December at 5 pm and reopen Tuesday 2 January at 9.30 am
Childers: close Friday 22 December at 5 pm and reopen Tuesday 2 January at 9 am
Gin Gin: close Friday 22 December at 4.45 pm and reopen Tuesday 2 January at 8.15 am
Woodgate: close Wednesday 20 December at 2 pm and reopen Wednesday 3 January at 10 am
More information about the Bundaberg Regional Libraries can be found here.
