PLR’s Most Borrowed Library Books 2017-18
In its 40th anniversary year, Public Lending Right’s top ten most borrowed authors list features no less than seven children’s writers, showing that libraries are still an integral part of children’s connection to reading.
Crime writer James Patterson has retained his title as the UK’s most borrowed author for the twelfth year in a row, with thrillers dominating the top ten most borrowed titles.
Top ten most borrowed authors in 2017-18
- James Patterson
- Daisy Meadows
- Julia Donaldson
- Francesca Simon
- Adam Blade
- Roald Dahl
- MC Beaton
- David Walliams
- Roderick Hunt
- Lee Child
Top ten most borrowed titles in 2017-18
- Night School by Lee Child
- The Whistler by John Grisham
- The Wrong side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney
- The Late Show by Michael Connelly
- Camino Island by John Grisham
- Rather Be the Devil by Ian Rankin
- The Fix by David Baldacci
- The Thirst: Harry Hole 11 by Jo Nesbo
- The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher) by Lee Child
PLR is administered on behalf of the UK Government by the British Library. It gives authors the legal right to receive remuneration from the Government each time their books are loaned through the public library system.
In February 2019, PLR distributed £6 million to 22,314 authors at a rate of 8.52p per loan. Any payments arising from the newly eligible ebook loans will be made for the first time in February 2020.
Next month, the British Library will celebrate 40 years since the creation of PLR at a PLR International conference that will include talks from UK and international PLR experts. A report on this anniversary event will appear in the October issue of ALCS News.
If you aren’t already registered with PLR, we strongly recommend that you do register to ensure you receive any money owed to you. Further details on how to register can be found on the PLR website.
Information on PLR International can be found here.
Read author, campaigner and ALCS’ Honorary President Maureen Duffy’s piece on how PLR came about 40 years ago here.
