Demand for e-books surges in lockdown as 2,000 new members join North Yorkshire libraries

Around 2,000 new members have joined the library service since March and nearly 60,000 e-book downloads have been recorded.

It's thought that many of the new users did not realise how many digital titles are stocked by the libraries and that they are available free of charge.

And data released by North Yorkshire's librarians has revealed that the pandemic has seen a rise in interest in true-life medical autobiographies.

Former NHS doctor Adam Kay's 'Twas the Night Shift Before Christmas', which is based on diaries he kept while working as a junior medic and is the follow-up to his bestseller 'This is Going to Hurt', was the third most-downloaded book, reflecting a sudden fascination with the inner workings of the health service.

Bill Bryson's 'The Body: A Guide for Occupants' - which is full of facts about the human body - appears in the top 20.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was at number one, amassing 252 audiobook downloads between March 1 and May 30, perhaps by parents desperate to entertain children while schools are closed.

Barnsley-based author Milly Johnson's new book My One True North was in second place with over 130 downloads. It tells the story of two people who meet at a bereavement support group after the deaths of their partners.

Sally Rooney's Normal People was another top 10 download after a BBC series based on the book proved a lockdown hit.

The Mirror and the Light, the final instalment to Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, was the sixth most-popular choice, and Kate Atkinson's new Jackson Brodie novel Big Sky, which is set on the North Yorkshire coast, was in the top 20.

​Coun Greg White said: “During lockdown, our library service may have had to close its doors, but the team has been working hard to make sure residents can still access some great reading material.

“We have invested more in digital books and set up a helpline to make it easy for people to join the library and to get help if they haven’t been sure how to use the online resources.

“We’ve certainly seen a passion for reading with over 59,000 titles being borrowed from our digital collection and over 2,000 new people joining the library. If you haven’t discovered North Yorkshire’s online library service yet, log on now, I think you will be surprised at all the things you can access for free.”

E-books and e-audio books are free to borrow for North Yorkshire library members.

The e-book provider is Overdrive and their Libby app is easy to use and will help readers to access a huge range of titles quickly.

To join the library, get a PIN number or if you need help using the digital library, call 01609 533878.