Last year’s most borrowed library books announced

ANKARA

Sabahattin Ali and Reşat Nuri Güntekin were the most borrowed authors from libraries across Turkey in 2018. 

The Turkish Librarians’ Association, compiling data collected from both university libraries and 146 public libraries, identified the most read/borrowed books of the year. 

According to the association’s data, in 2018, the most popular novels adults borrowed were Ali’s “Kürk Mantolu Madonna” (Madonna in a Fur Coat) and Güntekin’s “Çalıkuşu.” 

In children’s literature, Adam Blade’s “Beast Quest” and Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” were the most borrowed books.

University students mostly borrowed “Madonna in a Fur Coat” and public library users mostly took out “Çalıkuşu.” 

The association will give a plaque each to the publishing houses of these books within the scope of Library Week to be celebrated between March 25 and 31. 

Speaking to state-run Anadolu Agency, the association’s president, Ali Fuat Kartal, said they had identified the most borrowed books of the year of the last five years. 

Kartal stressed that books, especially literary works, were taken to be read by “real readers.” 

“However, we don’t read many books that that we buy from bookstores. In this context, the most read books in libraries are the ones that have reached real readers.” 

He said the 55th Library Week would be celebrated this year with the theme “Changing Society, Transforming Libraries.” 

Kartal said that “Reading books in 81 cities,” a recurring event held by the association every year since 2012, would also be realized in the country on March 27 between 12:30 p.m. and 1.00 p.m.