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Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol was the most loaned book in 2010, according to data from Nielsen BookScan' panel of libraries. The Lost Symbol was loaned out an estimated 183,000 times, putting it ahead of two Lee Child novels, Gone Tomorrow and 61 Hours. In total Nielsen estimates that the top 1,000 most-loaned library books were checked out more than 40m times in 2010.
The chart (below), showing the top 50 library loans of 2010, is dominated by thrillers, with six titles from James Patterson, the three Stieg Larsson books, two apiece from Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, and Patricia Cornwell, and titles from the likes of Mark Billingham, Harlan Coben, Martina Cole and Lynda La Plante.
This week The Bookseller launched a campaign "Fight for Libraries", aimed at drawing attention to the plight of public libraries, which are facing disproportionate cuts following the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Philip Jones, deputy editor of The Bookseller, said: "The figures give the lie to the view that libraries have some-how become outmoded or moved 'beyond books'. These are front-list books—titles that have also featured at the top of our bestseller charts over the year. It shows people are using libraries to browse and discover new fiction. It reinforces just how vital libraries really are in the life of the book."
The data is based on Nielsen LibScan Top 1,000 data for the year to 1st January 2011. LibScan now covers about 20% of all UK library loans, but the figures have been weighted to give an indication of the overall market.
Library 2010 Top 50
Pos Title Author Check-outs
1 The Lost Symbol Brown, Dan 183,000
2 Gone Tomorrow Child, Lee 149,000
3 61 Hours Child, Lee 141,000
4 I, Alex Cross Patterson, James 139,000
5 Wolf Hall Mantel, Hilary 134,000
6 The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest Larsson, Stieg 133,000
7 Silent Scream La Plante, Lynda 128,000
8 8th Confession Patterson, James 128,000
9 The Return Journey Binchy, Maeve 128,000
10 The Complaints Rankin, Ian 127,000
11 Hard Girls Cole, Martina 127,000
12 Run for Your Life Patterson, James 127,000
13 Swimsuit Patterson, James 125,000
14 Cross Country Patterson, James 124,000
15 The Associate Grisham, John 122,000
16 206 Bones Reichs, Kathy 122,000
17 Nine Dragons Connelly, Michael 122,000
18 The Girl Who Played with Fire Larsson, Stieg 122,000
19 Long Lost Coben, Harlan 121,000
20 The Scarecrow Connelly, Michael 114,000
21 In Time for Christmas Flynn, Katie 114,000
22 Doors Open Rankin, Ian 113,000
23 Heart and Soul Binchy, Maeve 112,000
24 Sail Patterson, James 110,000
25 The White Queen Gregory, Philippa 110,000
26 Girl Missing Gerritsen, Tess 110,000
27 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Larsson, Stieg 109,000
28 The Fever of the Bone McDermid, Val 108,000
29 Play Dead Coben, Harlan 107,000
30 Keeping the Dead Gerritsen, Tess 107,000
31 Twenties Girl Kinsella, Sophie 107,000
32 Aliens Love Underpants! Freedman, Claire 107,000
33 The Bodies Left Behind Deaver, Jeffery 106,000
34 Picture Perfect Picoult, Jodi 106,000
35 Born Bad Cox, Josephine 104,000
36 Paths of Glory Archer, Jeffrey 103,000
37 The Gruffalo Donaldson, Julia 102,000
38 Found Wanting Goddard, Robert 101,000
39 Stolen Pearse, Lesley 101,000
40 It's the Little Things James, Erica 101,000
41 Genesis Slaughter, Karin 100,000
42 All the Colours of Darkness Robinson, Peter 100,000
43 The Price of Love Robinson, Peter 100,000
44 First Family Baldacci, David 99,000
45 The Scarpetta Factor Cornwell, Patricia 99,000
46 Worst Case Patterson, James 99,000
47 The Front Cornwell, Patricia 99,000
48 The Brass Verdict Connelly, Michael 99,000
49 Bloodline Billingham, Mark 98,000
50 Folly Titchmarsh, Alan 98,000
* Based on Nielsen LibScan Top 1,000 data for the year to 1st January 2011. LibScan now covers approxaimtely 20% of all UK library loans but the figures above have been weighted to more actually relfect 100% coverage