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Our Most-Checked-Out Items of 2019

The New York Public Library recently calculated a list of the 10 books that have been checked out the most in its 125-year history. No. 1 is Caldecott Medal-winning children’s story "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats. "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss was No. 2.

Children’s books make up a large part of the list, NYPL folks say, likely because short books are quick reads and returned more quickly. The list’s top adult titles – "1984" (No. 3) and "To Kill A Mockingbird" (No. 5) – likewise are slender.

The Springfield-Greene County Library District dates to 1905, but we aren’t equipped to retrieve checkout history very far back.

Still, it’s fun to see the most-wanted/most-watched/most-anything when it comes to human habits, so staff pulled together your 25 most-checked-out items in 2019. No surprise to our mystery/suspense-loving patrons, James Patterson topped everyone. Odd note: When we’re talking strictly most-checked-out "items" in the library district, study rooms rank No. 1. They’re always busy.

Here were the top 25 books and movies in 2019. How many have you tried?

"Liar, Liar" and "The 13-Minute Murder," spots 1 and 2 by James Patterson

"Redemption" by David Baldacci

"The 18th Abduction" by James Patterson

"The Reckoning" by John Grisham

"The Big Kahuna" by Janet Evanovich

"The First Lady" by James Patterson

"Avengers. Infinity War" DVD

"Lady and the Tramp" DVD original version

"The House Next Door: Thrillers," then "The Cornwalls are Gone" and "Unsolved," all by James Patterson

"Circe" by Madeline Miller (Friends of the Library sponsored her as a library guest author in 2019.)

"Unsolved" by James Patterson

"Incredibles 2" DVD

"The Lion King" DVD

"The Chef" by James Patterson

"Frozen" DVD

Hotspot (The Sprint Hotspot allows 3G or 4G LTE speeds wherever you go and allows you to connect multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices. Search "hotspots" in the catalog.)

"Black Panther" DVD

"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" DVD

"Long Road to Mercy" by David Baldacci

"Wild Card" by Stuart Woods

"The Wedding Guest" by Jonathan Kellerman

"Peter Pan" DVD

Consider stretching your reading habits in 2020! Take the Winter Reading Challenge through Feb. 29 and earn a special mug. Ask a librarian for a challenge sheet, or visit thelibrary.org/readingchallenge.

Vickie Hicks is community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She can be reached at vickieh@thelibrary.org.

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