This column shares some interesting facts about how we used the Sherburne Public Library collection in 2009. It’s so much fun having accurate numbers that reflect our patterns; thank you Four County Library System! We created a listing of all the items checked out from our library last year, in order, according to how many times each item was checked out. We focused our attention on items that circulated four or more times.

The total circulation for 2009 was 27,760 checkouts. Items that circulated four or more times each accounted for 10,572 (38%) of the total. The absolute highest circulating item in the library for 2009 was the DVD titled “Prime Suspect 1”; it went out for 31 circs. The entire first page of highest-circulating items represented DVDs. Thirty-five titles accounted for 618 (2%) of the total checkouts. Twenty-four of them were children’s or family movies, whereas eleven were from our collection of movies considered appropriate for PG-13 or older. “Over the Hedge” and “Water Horse Legend of the Deep” had 24 circs each; “Mama Mia” and “Ratatouille” had 22 circs; “Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian” and “Horton Hears a Who” checked in at 21 circs; “Puss in Boots” circed 20 times; “Twilight” and “National Treasure 2 Book of Secrets” circed 19 times each.

Of non-movie items, the highest circulating piece of our collection was the lamb puppet from downstairs. She went out 15 times in 2009. two titles from downstairs: the children’s picturebook, “Duck Soup”, by Jackie Urbanovic, and non-fiction title, “Childs Garden 60 Ideas to Make any Garden Grow for Children” by Molly Dannenmaier tied for the highest circulating book with 13 circs each. The highest circulating adult book, also tied at 13 circs, was “Plum Spooky” by Janet Evanovich. Completing the top-ten list of circulating books are two books with 12 checkouts: “Berenstein Bears Sleepover” by Jan Berenstein, and “Face at the Window” by Sarah Graves; and six books with 11 checkouts: “First Family” by David Baldacci, “Berenstein Bears Family Reunion” by Jan Berenstein, “Never Tell a Lie” by Hallie Ephron, “Fancy Nancy the Dazzling Book Report, by Jane O’Connor, “Fred and Ted go Camping” by Peter Eastman, and “Tea for Ruby” by Sarah York, Duchess of Mountbatten-Windsor.

We’ve worked at expanding and improving our large print collection in 2009. This paid off with several titles high on the circulation list. They include “Sister’s Choice” by Judith Pella, “Left to Die” by Lisa Jackson, and “Rough Weather” by Robert B. Parker with 9 checkouts apiece. An additional 64 LP titles are listed with 4 or more circs.

Similarly, we’re trying to attract teen-aged traffic with great titles for young adults. It’s no surprise that the highest circulating YA title was “Eclipse” by Stephenie Meyer; our four copies checked in at 9 circs, 7 circs and two times 5 circs, respectively. The less predictable popular YA titles included: “Year My Sister Got Lucky” by Aimee Friedman (8 circs), and three 7 circ titles: “Just Listen: a Novel” by Sarah Dessen, and “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini and “Magyk” by Angie Sage. An additional 52 YA titles show up in the 4 or more circs category.