Library Nears 120,000 visits, Names Top Books of the Year

By Julie Dinville, Library Director

The Bellevue Public Library was very busy in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022)
despite some resurgences of the Covid-19 pandemic during that period. Recently, the library submitted
an annual statistical survey for public libraries to the Nebraska Library Commission that details some of
the library’s activities. This survey is completed each year to help the library qualify for state
accreditation, state aid, and state and federal grants.

The survey shows that, while digital content is popular, the library by far still checks out many more
physical items than digital. Also, the library recorded over 119,000 visits by persons during the year. The
snapshot included shows how busy the library was providing services and programs to the community. It
was great to be able to hold many more in-person activities during the year and to see and visit with
members of the community. The library staff continues to look for new ways to provide creative
programs and needed services and to offer new collections. We encourage all community members to
come in and visit and see what opportunities the library provides.

As a side note, the most popular adult reading books overall in Fiscal Year 2021-2022, were The
Guinness Book of World Records, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Game On: Tempting
Twenty-Eight by Janet Evanovich, Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult, and Run, Rose, Run by James
Patterson. It should also be noted that, while perennial bestsellers James Patterson and Danielle Steel
were the top two most popular authors, local author C.J. Petit was Number 3!

The most popular reading books overall for young adults were Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer, The
Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan, Scythe by Neal Shusterman, Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and The
House of Hades by Rick Riordan. Most popular authors were Rick Riordan, J.K. Rowling and Kiera Cass.

The most popular books overall for reading for children were Dog Man, Book 3 (A Tale of Two Kitties),
Dog Man, Book 7 (For Whom the Ball Rolls), Dog Man, Book 4 (Dog Man and Cat Kid), Dog Man, Book 2
(Unleashed) all by Dav Pilkey, and Baby-sitters Little Sister, Book 2 (Karen’s Roller Skates) by Katy Farina.
Most popular authors were Geronimo Stilton, Mary Pope Osborne, and Jim Davis.