After a four year reign as the ‘Queen of library lending’, Jacqueline Wilson has been narrowly beaten into second place by US thriller writer James Patterson in the Most Borrowed Authors list. According to the latest annual figures on library lending released by Public Lending Right (PLR) today, titles by James Patterson were lent over 1.5 million times between July 2006 and June 2007.

Aside from Jacqueline Wilson in second place, Patterson’s nearest adult fiction rivals are novelists Josephine Cox, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel and Ian Rankin. Children’s, young adult and educational books represent around 30% of all books borrowed nationally, and the latest Most Borrowed Authors list reflects this. Apart from Jacqueline Wilson, four other children’s writers appear in this year’s top 10

Daisy Meadows (3rd); Mick Inkpen (8th); Janet & Allan Ahlberg (9th) and Francesca Simon, creator of Horrid Henry (10th). Daisy Meadows, is flying particularly high: the creators of the Rainbow Magic series have leapt into 3rd place from 26th last year. When it comes to the popularity of individual fiction titles overall, new, if not wholly surprising names emerge. Patricia Cornwell takes first place in the Most Borrowed Titles list with ‘At Risk’.

 

Most Borrowed Authors* - Queen of Library lending toppled

1 James Patterson
2 Jacqueline Wilson
3 Daisy Meadows
4 Josephine Cox
5 Nora Roberts
6 Danielle Steel
7 Ian Rankin
8 Mick Inkpen
9 Janet & Allan Ahlberg
10 Francesca Simon

 

Most Borrowed Children’s Authors* - All the usual suspects

1 Jacqueline Wilson
2 Daisy Meadows
3 Mick Inkpen
4 Janet & Allan Ahlberg
5 Francesca Simon
6 Roald Dahl
7 Enid Blyton
8 Ian Whybrow
9 Eric Hill
10 Julia Donaldson
11 Lucy Cousins
12 Lucy Daniels
13 Rose Impey
14 Nick Butterworth
15 Terry Deary
16 Martin Waddell
17 Fiona Watt
18 Vivian French
19 Lauren Child
20 Anthony Horowitz

 

 Most Borrowed Children’s Fiction Titles* - Girls rule OK

1 J K Rowling                          Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2 Jacqueline Wilson                 Candyfloss
3 Francesca Simon                  Horrid Henry and the Football Fiend
4 Francesca Simon                  Horrid Henry’s Underpants
5 Francesca Simon                  Horrid Henry and the Mega Mean Time Machine
6 Francesca Simon                  Horrid Henry meets the Queen
7 Jacqueline Wilson                 Sleepovers
8 Francesca Simon                  Horrid Henry and the Bogey Babysitter
9 Jacqueline Wilson                 Starring Tracy Beaker
10 Julia Donaldson                  The Gruffalo’s Child

 

Most Borrowed Classic Titles (Children)* - Dahl delivers

1 Roald Dahl                                       Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
2 Roald Dahl                                       The Witches
3 Roald Dahl                                       James and the Giant Peach
4 Roald Dahl                                       Danny the Champion of the World
5 Roald Dahl                                       Matilda
6 Roald Dahl                                       The BFG
7 Roald Dahl                                       Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2001)
8 Roald Dahl                                       Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
9 Korky Paul and Valerie Thomas        Winnie’s Magic Wand
10Roald Dahl                                      The Enormous Crocodile

 

Most Borrowed Children’s Non-Fiction Titles* - Terry leads and has 10 titles in the Top 20                                                                                  
1 Terry Deary                                      The Woeful Second World War
2 Mick Inkpen                                     Kipper’s A to Z
3 Eric Hill                                            Spot Can Count
4 Terry Deary                                      The Ruthless Romans
5 Felicity Brooks                                 First Colours
6 Fiona Watt                                       Dinosaurs
7 Anna Nilsen                                     Pirates
8 Susannah Leigh                                Puzzle Palace
9 Terry Deary, Neil Tonge                    The Terrible Tudors
10Fiona Land                                      Baby Touch Colours

*Source: Public Lending Right