If you’re gearing up for a big year of reading in 2021, these lists may inspire you to discover some popular titles. Below, you’ll find the top 10 checkouts system-wide, plus you can discover the top 10 checkouts for kids and teens, and the top 10 titles in Spanish. Millions more titles await in our collections, many available as e-books and audiobooks, in world languages and accessible formats. There are many ways the Library offers to find new reads for the new year. You can:
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Honorable Mention
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Top Checkout of All Time: The Snowy Day (485,583 checkouts)
In print and in the Library’s catalog continuously since 1962, this charming, beautifully illustrated tale of a child enjoying the simple magic that snow brings to his city is one of the Library’s top circulated books every year, across all neighborhoods we serve. The story—available in a multitude of languages—has a universal appeal and is well-known, being both a Caldecott Medal winner and one of the earliest examples of diversity in children’s books. At the end of the day, though, it’s all about the story—and how the brilliantly told tale of Peter and his wintry adventure transcends generations.
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125 Years: Top Checkouts of All Time
Learn MoreDiscover which books have been checked out the most in the 125-year history of the Library.
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125 Years of The New York Public Library
Learn MoreThe Library's 125th anniversary is a moment to honor and reaffirm the enduring power of libraries.
Of course, our list only covers The New York Public Library’s branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island. Our friends at Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Public Library are also releasing their top 10 checkouts of 2020—find out now what else your fellow New Yorkers have been reading!
Meanwhile, if you’re wondering what horror and romance fans are reading, here is a snapshot of some of NYPL’s most popular checkouts by genre:
- Classics: 1984 by George Orwell
- Comics & Graphic Novels: The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood, art and adaptation by Renée Nault
- Sci-Fi & Fantasy: The Water Dancer: A Novel by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Horror: If It Bleeds: New Fiction by Stephen King
- Mystery & Detective: The Glass Hotel: A Novel by Emily St. John Mandel
- Romance: The Starless Sea: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern
Get Connected to the Library
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Best Books of 2020
Learn MoreOur expert librarians and staff have chosen the best books of the year for kids, teens, and adults, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and books for kids in Spanish!
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125 NYC Books We Love
Learn MoreAt the end of our anniversary year, we celebrate our wonderful, diverse, resilient, dynamic city. Check out books we love for kids, teens, and adults in a range of world languages and accessible formats.
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Get Personal Recommendations with Shelf Help
Learn MoreLooking for something new to read? Tell us what you like and we’ll handpick five books just for you. Suitable for all ages!
Make a Year-End Gift
Gifts made to the Library before midnight on December 31 will be instantly matched to double their impact.
