Reading online is popular during lockdowns
Wyndham residents have embraced eBooks and eAudio books during lockdown, with record numbers borrowed from Wyndham’s library over the last 12 months.
In the last financial year, there were 58,398 eBook loans, an increase of 46 per cent on the previous year.
A further 53,707 eAudio books were borrowed, an increase of 39 per cent from the previous year. A total of 62,404 eMagazines were also loaned, an increase of 22 per cent on the previous year.
Wyndham Libraries are free to join and available online 24/7 to meet the needs of Wyndham residents.
Wyndham City’s Learning City portfolio holder, Councillor Jasmine Hill, said: “It is fantastic that Wyndham residents have embraced eBooks and eAudio books and are making the most of their local library resources.”
“Council is committed to providing our community with the opportunity to grow through reading and accessing e-resources.”
“To cater for the increased demand, Council has allocated an additional $61,000 in this year’s budget to increase libraries Electronic resources.”
“The additional funding will go towards purchasing eBooks and eAudio books that will provide our residents with a wide range of book choices that cater for everyone in our community.”
“The increased level of borrowing over the last year, while residents spent a lot of time at home, has shown that residents have adapted to utilising different library resources.”
“Whether that be for pleasure or learning, it is wonderful that our libraries are a place where everyone can find something that interests them. The top five non-fiction eAudio books are a combination of self-help books and financial literacy.”
The very popular Harry Potter series took the top five spots in eAudio books for children.
Residents are encourage to join the library by visiting https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/libraries/using-library/how-join-borrow
Below is a list of the Top 5 eAudio books.
eAudio book – Children
Author Title
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Provider of Azkaban – J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire – J. K. Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J. K. Rowling
eAudio book – Youth
Author Title
- Midnight Sun – Stephenie Meyer
- The Cruel Prince – Holly Black
- Twilight – Stephenie Meyer
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes – Suzanne Collins
- One of us is Lying – Karen M. McManus
eAudio book – Adult Fiction
| Author | Title | |
| 1 | Williams, Pip | Dictionary of Lost Words |
| 2 | Haig, Matt | Midnight Library |
| 3 | Archer, Jeffrey | Hidden in Plain Sight |
| 4 | Owens, Delia | Where the Crawdads Sing |
| 5 | Moriarty, Liane | Nine Perfect Strangers |
eAudio book – Adult Non-fiction
| Author | Title | |
| 1 | Obama, Michelle | Becoming |
| 2 | Manson, Mark | Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck |
| 3 | Clear, James | Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones |
| 4 | Pape, Scott | Barefoot Investor for Families How to teach your kids the value of a buck |
| 5 | Pape, Scott | Barefoot Investor: 2019/2020 Edition |