The Salem Public library saw over 733,991 checkouts in 2023. Among thousands of titles to choose from, some books stood out from the rest by spending more time in people’s hands than on the shelves.
Top titles included Salem Reads picks, books recently adapted to film and television, magical adventures and memoirs.
Here are the most popular library checkouts for Salemites this year, including books, DVDs and things, provided by Interim City Librarian Bridget Esqueda. Library staff also shared their favorite reads of the year.
Top 5 checkouts of 2023
- Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2023 Salem Reads pick)
- The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova (2024 Salem Reads pick)
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
- A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
Top 5 adult fiction
- The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
- A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny
- The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham
- Desert Star by Michael Connelly
- No Plan B: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Top 5 adult nonfiction
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
- I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
- Spare by Prince Harry
- The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
- The Wager by David Grann
Top 5 teen fiction
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Top 5 teen nonfiction
- Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
- They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
- The Strangest Thing in the Sea by Rachel Poliquin
- How To Money by Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle
- Seeing Gender: An Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression by Iris Gottlieb
Top 5 children’s picture books
- Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
- Uni the Unicorn by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
- Princess in Training by Tammi Sauer
- Part-Time Princess by Deborah Underwood
- Sleeping Beauty by Cynthia Rylant
Top 5 children’s fiction
- The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
- Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey
- Dog Man and Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
- Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey
Top 5 children’s nonfiction
- Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2020
- Minecraft Guide to Combat by Craig Jelley
- Minecraft Blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire
- Transportation: How People Get Around by Gail Gibbons
- Minecraft Super Bite-Size Builds by Thomas McBrien
Top 5 library of things
- Ukulele
- Laptop with 4g LTE Mobile Internet Service
- Violin
- Dungeons and Dragons Kit with Player’s Handbook
- Otamatone
Top 5 DVDs
- Midsomer Murders, set 25
- Downton Abbey, Season 6
- Game of Thrones, Season 7
- Agatha Christie’s Poirot, series set 1
- Doctor Who, complete first series
Esqueda’s favorites this year, “oldies but goodies”
- The 7 habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey
- The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
Some staff favorites:
- Accountable by Dashka Slater
- The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
- A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K Rowling (first time reader)
- A Guest in the House by Emily Carroll
- Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
- The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
- Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar
- Emergency Contact by Lauren Layne and Anthony LeDonne
Update: This story was updated to include total checkouts this year.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
