I received a press release from the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library that announced the local library system "is experiencing its highest use ever"—more than 1.2 million visitors last year at branches in Albemarle, Charlottesville and surrounding counties.
Not a bad time to hear what sounds like good news, since the library starts implementing a few key components of its five-year plan—including a pilot program to keep the Central Library open later on Fridays and plan a renovation of the same branch. (Worth noting: Another plan objective is the installation of self-checkout services at libraries.) Read the five-year plan here.
Anyways, the J-MRL also included the list of what many of those 1.2 million visitors read, watched and listened to in the last year. And there are some odd winners. Below, selections from J-MRL’s "Best of 2009" list:
Most popular book: The Associate, by John Grisham, with 489 circulations. In second place, with 396 circulations, is Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta. Interestingly, the two books were reviewed on consecutive days by the Washington Post. (More interesting: How brutally NPR book critic Maureen Corrigan dispatches Cornwell’s book.)
Most popular DVD: "Upstairs, Downstairs," a TV series about the residents of a townhouse in early 20th century Britain. Really?! Talk about a dark horse!
Most popular music CD: I am…Sasha Fierce, by Beyonce. If you like it, then you should’ve put a hold on it.
And, the revelation I find both most amusing and terrifying…
Most popular nonfiction kids book: Star Wars Attack of the Clones Visual Dictionary. You’re reading that right, folks.