npr: The New York Public Library has been loaning books for a...
npr:
The New York Public Library has been loaning books for a long time — the institution turns 125 this year.
To celebrate, the library dug into its records and calculated a list of the 10 books that have been checked out the most in its history.
The most-wanted book? The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
The Caldecott Medal-winning tale of a young boy’s encounter with snow has been checked out 485,583 times from the NYPL since it was published in 1962.
It shares qualities with many of the other most-borrowed titles: The beautifully illustrated book has been around a long time, it’s well-known and well-loved, and it’s available in numerous languages.
“It is such a relatable story, and pure magic for kids and adults alike,” Andrew Medlar, director of the library’s BookOps selection team, said in a statement. “It’s on people’s radar screens, they remember when they first heard it, and they want to share that experience with their kids. And the artwork is just gorgeous.”
Photo: The New York Public Library
Caption: Children in the Bronx visit a New York Public Library bookmobile in the 1950s. The institution turns 125 this year.
