Top Titles: It’s not your father’s library

“Fifty Shades” x 3 = 1,511.

That’s the number of local library checkouts a best-selling novel totaled last year in CD, eBook and digital audio formats.

When the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District recently compiled its 2014 list of most-circulated titles, it underscored the popularity of several books and authors across a range of technologies. It also showed how publishers have responded to library patrons who want to read a book on a computer screen or listen to an audio version.

The library circulation list includes more than 20 “most popular” titles, sorted by literary category, age group and format. Some titles showed up more than once; so did several authors who have an avid following among their readers — particularly younger ones.

John Grisham’s “Sycamore Row” was the No. 1 checkout for adult-fiction books (854). But E.L. James’ “Fifty Shades of Grey” led three different circulation categories: eBook (1,144); eAudiobook (228); and CD (139).

Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild” was the most popular adult biography (377) and eAudiobook title (228).

In the teen category, three installments in Suzanne Collins’ series starring Katniss Everdeen led three different categories: “Hunger Games” (eAudiobook, 216); “Mockingjay” (CD, 184); and “Catching Fire” (Playaway, 129).

With the mix-and-match of platforms, many publishers are now launching their best-sellers in several formats at the same time, said Jan Johnston, Fort Vancouver’s collection development manager.

“I have noticed that many best-selling titles are available on the same date in both (electronic and print) formats,” she said. “I wouldn’t say that this always happens, but I’m sure the increase in popularity of digital formats has influenced publishers.

“As far as audiobooks are concerned, I select in this area as well” for adults, Johnston said, “and I have seen an increase in simultaneous release with print editions. Large print is yet another area where publishers have increased the number of titles released at the same time as the regular print edition.”

It can mean options for prospective borrowers who don’t care about format. They will enter the same title on two or three different waiting lists.

“I know there are patrons who do that; hopefully, they cancel the others” when the first version becomes available, Johnston said.

The most popular choices on both the adult and children’s categories are DVDs, although those lists are compiled differently than the other formats. The 2,060 checkouts last year for “Midsomer Murders” represents the franchise total for the long-running series of British mysteries, not just one episode or season.

It’s the same with the children’s DVD category: 1,827 checkouts represent the library system’s entire “VeggieTales” inventory, not one particular show.

DVD numbers can rise dramatically when a TV series makes a breakthrough, by the way. People who come late to a show like “Downton Abbey” (the top adult DVD for 2013) have some catching up to do.

“We see people who place a hold on the whole series,” Johnston said.

2014 MOST POPULAR TITLES

(Category, title, author, checkouts)

ADULT

Fiction “Sycamore Row,” John Grisham 854

Nonfiction “Life of Fred,” Stanley Schmidt 341

Biography “Wild,” Cheryl Strayed 377

Playaway “The Storm,” Clive Cussler 88

CD “Fifty Shades of Grey,” E.L. James 139

DVD “Midsomer Murders,” TV program 2,060

eBook overall “Fifty Shades of Grey,” E.L. James 1,144

eBook nonfiction “Wild,” Cheryl Strayed 388

eAudiobook overall “Fifty Shades of Grey,” E.L. James 228

TEEN

Fiction “Fault in our Stars,” John Green 814

Playaway “Catching Fire,” Suzanne Collins 129

CD “Mockingjay,” Suzanne Collins 184

eBook overall “Divergent (Book 1),” Veronica Roth 677

eAudiobook “The Hunger Games,” Suzanne Collins 216

(No separate teen categories for biography, nonfiction)

CHILDREN

Fiction “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck,” Jeff Kinney 1,026

Picture Book “Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Eric Carle 463

Nonfiction “Garfield gets in a Pickle,” Jim Davis 665

Biography “Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?” Y. McDonough 78

Playaway “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever,” Jeff Kinney 111

CD “House of Hades,” Rick Riordan 204

DVD “VeggieTales,” TV program 1,827

ALL AGES

Large print “Takedown Twenty,” Janet Evanovich 197

Video playaway “Napping House/Other Classics,” compilation 130

Source: Fort Vancouver Regional Library District