This column, featuring Omaha Public Library's 2024 circulation stats, appeared in the Jan. 19, 2025, edition of the Omaha World-Herald (NE), page 3E of the Living Section. It is also available at Omaha.com (opens in a new tab), opens a new window.
Omaha Public Library Celebrates Over 1 Million Digital Checkouts in 2024
It’s no surprise that Omaha’s community of avid readers would embrace books in multiple formats, including via eBooks and audiobooks. Omaha Public Library is thrilled to announce it surpassed 1 million digital checkouts on the Libby app for the second year in a row, with 1,172,579 checkouts in 2024, to be specific.
This milestone truly underscores the community’s embrace of digital reading. Libby, the library reading app, enables library patrons to access a vast collection of eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines for free with a library card on devices including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and certain eReaders.
In 2024, the community’s enthusiasm for reading has been substantial, thanks to ongoing efforts to meet readers where they are and offer easy access to beloved stories, popular authors, and trending titles. Some of the top titles checked out by OPL patrons include the following:
Top adult eBooks:
1) “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, 2) “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros, 3) “Don’t Believe It” by Charlie Donlea, 4) “It Starts with Us” by Colleen Hoover, 5) “The Five-Star Weekend” by Elin Hilderbrand, 6) “Funny Story” by Emily Henry, 7) “None of This is True” by Lisa Jewell, 8) “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston, 9) “Happy Place” by Emily Henry, and 10) “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros.
Top adult digital audiobooks:
1) “The Women” by Kristin Hannah, 2) “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears, 3) “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros, 4) “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy, 5) “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah, 6) “The Paris Apartment” by Lucy Foley, 7) “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, 8) “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros, 9) “The Teacher” by Freida McFadden, and 10) “Apples Never Fall” by Liane Moriarty.
Top teen e-books:
1) “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas, 2) “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak, 3) “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins, 4) “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han, 5) “Heartstopper, Volume 5” by Alice Oseman, 6) “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas, 7) “Check & Mate” by Ali Hazelwood, 8) “The Brothers Hawthorne” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 9) “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross, and 10) “Powerless” by Lauren Roberts.
Top teen digital audiobooks:
1) “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas, 2) “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins, 3) “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han, 4) “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas, 5) “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, 6) “Divine Rivals” by Rebecca Ross, 7) “Firekeeper’s Daughter” by Angeline Boulley, 8) “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson, 9) “Check & Mate” by Ali Hazelwood, and 10) “Crown of Midnight” by Sarah J. Maas.
Top children’s e-books:
1) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End” by Jeff Kinney, 2) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot” by Jeff Kinney, 3) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess” by Jeff Kinney, 4) “Big Nate: Move It or Lose It!” by Lincoln Peirce, 5) “Big Nate: Nailed It!” by Lincoln Peirce, 6) “Baby-Sitters Little Sister: Karen’s Birthday: A Graphic Novel” by Ann M. Martin, 7) “Big Nate: Beware of Low-Flying Corn Muffins” by Lincoln Peirce, 8) “Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea” by Dav Pilkey, 9) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde” by Jeff Kinney, and 10) “The Baby-Sitters Club: Claudia and the Bad Joke: A Graphic Novel” by Ann M. Martin.
Top children’s digital audiobooks:
1) “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle, 2) “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling, 3) “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling, 4) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot” by Jeff Kinney, 5) “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by J.K. Rowling, 6) “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, 7) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess” by Jeff Kinney, 8) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde” by Jeff Kinney, 9) “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer” by Jeff Kinney, and 10) “The Flames of Hope” by Tui Sutherland.
If you haven’t used the Libby app yet to access digital content, know that it’s designed to provide library patrons easy access to a world of digital books, audiobooks, and magazines. Readers of all ages can find something they’ll enjoy, whether they’re exploring bestsellers, learning something new, or listening on the go. The app offers features like offline access, customizable reading settings, and options for those with reading differences such as dyslexia, making it inclusive for all readers.
OPL patrons can access Libby by downloading the app or visiting omaha.overdrive.com. After downloading Libby, sign in with your library card and begin borrowing instantly.
For those new to the platform, library staff are always available to provide support and answer questions. Happy reading!
About Omaha Public Library
Omaha Public Library (OPL) strengthens our communities by connecting people with ideas, information, and innovative services, acting as an essential catalyst, collaborator, and connector. Learn about OPL's collections, facilities, services, programs and more at omahalibrary.org.
Add a comment to: Omaha Public Library Celebrates Over 1 Million Digital Checkouts in 2024