Arts & Entertainment

Pierce County Library Reveals Most Popular Digital Books in 2020

Despite being largely closed due to the pandemic, Pierce County libraries managed to rent out a record-breaking number of books digitally.

(Rachel Nunes/Patch)

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — The Pierce County Library System is celebrating a new record after checking out 1.7 million e-books and audiobooks in 2020.

According to the library system, that makes the Pierce County Library one of just 102 library systems across the planet that checked out more than one million books last year.

To celebrate, they're thanking local readers for taking the time to borrow so many books — especially during the pandemic, when it wasn't exactly easy to get a book in person.

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“Our thanks goes to the tens of thousands of people in Pierce County enjoying and learning from e-books and audiobooks,” said Pierce County Library Executive Director Georgia Lomax. “With the pandemic, our online library became the only library for residents for many months. Thanks to our amazing readers for checking out more than a million books during this time and throughout the year!”

They've also released a list of the most popular titles they rented out by format.

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The Pierce County Library System's most-borrowed e-books for 2020 were:

1. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
2. “Girl Waits with Gun” by Amy Stewart
3. “Educated” by Tara Westover
4. “Blue Moon” by Lee Child
5. “The Guardians” by John Grisham

The Pierce County Library System's most-borrowed audiobooks for 2020 were:

1. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneby J.K. Rowling
2. “Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
3. “The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
4. “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
5. “Educated” by Tara Westover

Pierce County Libraries serve more than 620,000 residents across the county both online and through 20 libraries from Tacoma to DuPont.

Find a library near you or borrow a book online by visiting the Pierce County Library System's website.

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