From pickleball sets to Prince Harry's memoir, from the Barbie movie to Elephant and Piggie, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library has compiled a list of some of the most popular books, downloads and things checked out in 2023. Overall circulation of both physical and digital materials combined saw a 4.4 percent increase in 2023. Did your favorite make the list?
Please note, some of the library's most popular materials may require placing a hold while you wait for the item to be returned by another user. Virtually explore some of our most popular collections on the library's Explore the Collection page. These items are available now on the library’s shelves. Place a hold on the titles you want and a library staff member will get them ready for you to pick up at one of our available locations - in the library, at the drive-up window, at the Senior Center, or even on the bookmobile. To search the library's entire collection, use the search box at the top of this page.
The Library of Things is a growing collection of unique items that includes everything from board games to wireless hotspots, sewing machines to ukuleles. This collection offers endless opportunities for learning, creating and finding inspiration by trying out new things simply borrowed from your library. Whether you want to explore new skills, or try something before you buy it, the Library of Things has something for you. Search the collection here.
If digital materials and downloadables are more your style, you can read newspapers, magazines and books online by downloading them to your home device, an app like cloudLibrary, or you an even check out an eReader from the library, like the new BOOX tablet. Learn more about borrowing an eReader device here. Explore our full collection of downloadable items to borrow that also includes audiobooks, eComics, movies/TV episodes, music, and find something new today that just might make the Arlington Heights favorite items list in 2024!
2023 Most Checked-Out Library Books: Adult
- The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West
- It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
- Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham
2023 Most Checked-Out Library Books: Teen
- I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
- The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
2023 Most Checked-Out Library Books: Kids
- Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diaper Överlöde by Jeff Kinney
- Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations by Dav Pilkey
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
- What About Worms!? by Mo Willems and Ryan T. Higgins
2023 Most Checked-Out Library of Things Items
- Hotspot
- Roku stick
- Flash drive
- Projector
- Knife sharpener
- Sewing machine
- Paper shredder
- Ticket to Ride (game)
- Pickleball set
- Home Tweet Home (jigsaw puzzle)
- Under-The-Sea Mermaid Palace (toy)
- Gifted testing flash cards (STEM toy)
- Building Brick STEM Challenge Kit
2023 Most Checked-Out Movies
- Barbie
- John Wick: Chapter 4
- Oppenheimer
2023 Most Checked-Out eAudiobooks: hoopla
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling
2023 Most Checked-Out eAudiobooks & eBooks: cloudLibrary
- It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
- Spare by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
- Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes