MORE than 225,000 items were borrowed from Bathurst City Library in 2023 and there were a staggering 98,617 visits through its doors over 12 months.
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That's close to 2000 visits each week.
Librarian Patou Clerc said the library was a popular place and people visit for all sorts of reasons.
"They borrow from the library collections, but also to use the space to read, relax and socialise, connect to the free wi-fi, use the library computers, photocopiers and scanners, and attend our program of events," she said.
And more than 10,000 Bathurstians take advantage of the library's free membership, with 1192 people joining the library in 2023. And there was plenty for them to choose from.
"Twenty per cent of these were electronically. This includes DVDs, CDs, non-fiction and fiction books for adults and children, movie streaming, audiobooks and magazines," Ms Clerc said.
As for what was popular among readers? It was a mixed bag: inclusions in the list ranged from autobiographies to a children's book about brushing your teeth!
Prince Harry's Spare was the most popular adult non-fiction title and travel books also rated highly.
Here's what caught the attention of readers in various categories.
Top 5 adult non-fiction
- Spare / Prince Harry
- Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War Of Resistance: The Bathurst War, 1822-1824 / Stephen Gapps
- Did I Ever Tell You This?: A Memoir / Sam Neill
- The Barefoot Investor: The Only Money Guide You'll Ever Need / Scott Pape
- The Widow Of Walcha: A True Story Of Love, Lies And Murder In A Small Country Town / Emma Partridge
Top 5 adult fiction
- Exiles / Jane Harper
- Homecoming / Kate Morton
- Dream Town / David Baldacci
- The Bullet That Missed / Richard Osman
- The 6:20 Man / David Baldacci
Top 5 picture books
- Mixed: An Inspiring Story About Colour / Arree Chung
- Macca's Makeover / Matt Cosgrove
- Who Sank The Boat? / Pamela Allen
- The Very Hungry Bear / Nick Bland
- Brush Your Teeth / The Wiggles
Top 5 junior fiction
- The Bad Guys. Episode 1 / Aaron Blabey
- Diary Of A Wimpy Kid / Jeff Kinney
- Planet Weird! / Anh Do
- The Bad Guys. Episode 2, Mission Unpluckable / Aaron Blabey
- The Bad Guys. Episode 8, Superbad / Aaron Blabey
Top 5 travel books
- Greatest British Railway Journeys / introduction by Michael Portillo
- The Complete Trip In A Van Guide To Australia / Bec Lorrimer
- Lonely Planet England
- Lonely Planet Germany
- Italy's Best Trips: 40 Amazing Road Trips / Duncan Garwood
In addition to loaning books in 2023, the library team delivered 263 programs (an average of 22 programs per month), reaching an audience of more than 7000 people.
Programs included early literacy (Baby Rhyme Time and Story Time), tech help through the monthly Computer Coffee Club, and talks and information sessions on a wide range of topics.
Ms Clerc said among other highlights for 2023 were hosting sessions of the Bathurst Writers' and Readers' Festival at the library and hosting big names such as Judy Nunn, Richard Glover in conversation with Simon Marnie, and renowned Wiradyuri writer Anita Heiss.
