Suffolk County libraries set record for digital book checkouts in 2023
The Public Libraries of Suffolk County recently announced that its patrons reached a new milestone: 3.6 million digital books borrowed on Livebrary.com in 2023. Consisting of over 56 libraries in Suffolk County, Livebrary.com is #15 of all public library consortia and one of 152 total public library systems worldwide that surpassed one million checkouts last calendar year.
Livebrary.com member libraries have been providing readers 24/7 access to e-books, audiobooks, comic books and other digital content for several years through the award-winning Libby app, the library reading app created by OverDrive. Member libraries include Smithtown Library, Sachem Public Library in Holbrook, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library in Setauket, Middle Country Public Library in Centereach and Selden, Longwood Public Library in Middle Island and Northport–East Northport Public Library.
“The Public Libraries of Suffolk County continue to meet the needs of their communities by providing patrons with much-needed access to a wide variety of entertainment and learning opportunities through e-books and audiobooks,” said Kevin Verbesey, Director of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System.
The highest-circulating title Livebrary.com readers borrowed in 2023 was Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. The New York Times bestseller tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, who becomes a beloved cooking show host in 1960s Southern California after being fired as a chemist four years earlier.
The top-circulating genre, romance, represents the most popular in a vast catalog that also includes thriller, suspense, mystery, children/young adult and more.
The top five e-book titles borrowed through Livebrary.com’s digital collection in 2023 were:
1. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
2. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
3. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
4. Verity by Colleen Hoover
5. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The top five audiobook titles borrowed through Livebrary.com’s digital collection in 2023 were:
1. Spare by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
2. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
4. It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
5. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Suffolk County residents just need a valid library card from a member library to access digital books from Livebrary’s OverDrive-powered digital collection. Readers can use any major device, including Apple(R), Android™, Chromebook™ and Kindle(R) (U.S. only). Download the Libby app or visit livebrary.overdrive.com to borrow e-books, audiobooks and more.
This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Prime Times senior supplement on 01/25/24.
