Young readers rule when it comes to library lending

Almost 20 million items are borrowed from Ireland’s 333 public libraries annually. Children’s books account for 75% of the titles on the recently released list of the 100 most borrowed books in Irish public libraries in 2017. Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid books claimed the top 6 spots on the list with 6 of David Walliams’ books in the top 20 list. Jeff Kinney has proved extremely popular with younger readers having dominated the top 10 list since 2011.

Most borrowed books in Irish public libraries in 2017
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Demon Dentist by David Walliams
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Awful Auntie by David Walliams

For the third year in a row, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins was the most borrowed adult book in Irish public libraries and the only adult book to make the top 10 list. Irish authors continue to be popular with Irish readers with 7 of the top 10 adult books being by Irish authors.

Most borrowed adult books 2017
Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Holding by Graham Norton
Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent
Night School by Lee Child
Echoland by Joe Joyce
The Reunion by Rosin Meaney
The Missing Wife by Sheila O’Flanagan
The Husband by Deirdre Purcell
The Whistler by John Grisham
Secrets of a Happy Marriage by Cathy Kelly

Women’s Prize for Fiction 2018

Kamila Shamsie has won the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction with her seventh novel Home Fire.

Home Fire follows three orphaned Muslim siblings, elder sister Isma and twins Aneeka and Parvaiz. Parvaiz decides to join ISIS after discovering that his absent father died en route to Guantánamo. When Aneeka meets Eamonn, son of the British Muslim home secretary, the lives of the two families become inextricably, devastatingly entwined.

The judges said “This was a dazzling shortlist, it had depth and richness and variety. We were forcibly struck by the quality of the prose. Each book had its champions. In the end we chose the book which we felt spoke for our times. Home Fire is about identity, conflicting loyalties, love and politics. And it sustains mastery of its themes and its form. It is a remarkable book which we passionately recommend.”

Previously known as The Orange prize and The Baileys prize, the winner receives £30,000 and the ‘Bessie’, a limited edition bronze figurine.

Refugee book reading campaign

To mark World Refugee Day, UNHCR is partnering with libraries and bookshops across the country for a reading campaign to encourage people to read a book about refugees. The initiative allows children and adults to explore the devastating impact of war on families by reading books that highlight refugee issues. The 2018 campaign will run from 18 June to 30 June.

Libraries throughout Clare are participating in this reading campaign. Using UNHCR’s specially selected book lists for children and adults, readers will have a wide selection of stories from around the world to choose from in the form of fact, fiction, autobiography and photography. Popular titles include ‘The Kite Runner’, which documents the boyhood friendship of two friends in Afghanistan and ‘The Go-Away Bird‘, a first-hand account of the Rwandan Genocide by a 12 year old refugee.

World Refugee Day is an opportunity to salute the strength and courage of refugees; the solidarity of those countries, including Ireland, who assist refugees; and the contribution refugees make to countries around the world.

Cruinniú na nÓg

Cruinniú na nÓg will take place on Saturday, 23 June - a national Day of Youthful Creativity. It celebrates and encourages children and young people’s participation in culture and creativity through a variety of events. All events are free and local. It’s a day for ‘doing’, ‘making’ and ‘creating’!

While the focus will by on Saturday 23 June, events can also happen on the day before to accommodate schools who may wish to participate. This is a Creative Ireland initiative supported by the Culture Team of Clare County Council. Events begin on Friday, 22 June in Scariff and Killaloe Public Libraries with Irish History Live shows by Michael Moylan. An art exhibition will take place at Newquay National School on Friday also. Students have been participating in art appreciation classes between January and June of this year and their own creations will be exhibited at the school.

On Saturday, a wide variety of events will take place in various venues around the county including Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee, glór in Ennis, Ennistymon and the Burren College of Art. Events at Cultúrlann Sweeney include a rap workshop for teens, two mask making workshops and two Under the Sea art workshops plus a magic show; Burren College of Art will host Midsummer Crafts at their Midsummer Eve's Bonfire Festival; a Fairy Glen River Walk will take place on the Ballymacraven/Inagh Rivers in Ennistymon and glór will host two Willow Wood Musical Storytelling events, a Piano Music Marathon, African Dancing Workshop and a Film Screening.

The final events will take place on Monday, 25 June in Shannon Public Library and DeValera Public Library in Ennis where Niall de Búrca will host storytelling sessions. Further information can be found on www.clarelibrary.ie and the Cruinniú website at https://creative.ireland.ie/cruinniu.