‘Frozen’ leads the way: The most checked-out library items of 2014

In 2014, Lawrencians were treated to a newly renovated and expanded public library. And they sure did indulge.

The Lawrence Public Library operated out of the new digs for only five months of 2014, but the public used it at a far higher rate than it did the year before. The total amount of visits jumped 64 percent in 2014 and the library’s issuance of borrowing cards grew by 28 percent, according to marketing director Jeni Daley.

So with all the foot traffic flying by, which items couldn’t stay on the shelves in 2014? Much of the most desired titles involved books that also took to the silver screen that year.

“I am a little surprised about how we like our media to be crossed over,” said readers services coordinator Polli Ken. “So pretty much everything that we’re reading, we’re also watching. That’s just interesting to note.”

There are some notable standalones, too, such as “The Goldfinch” — a “door-stopper” of a book, Ken said — taking the top spot among books. And to no one’s surprise, “Frozen” conquered the movies and was the most checked-out item of the year.

Here are the rest of the Lawrence Public Library’s most in-demand items of 2014, by category:

Music CD: “21” by Adele.

Times checked out: 95

Year: 2011

Description: The second studio album by the English recording artist features the hit “Rumour Has It,” and won the 2012 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Runners-up: “Babel” by Mumford & Sons (93); “Music from Baz Luhrmann’s Film The Great Gatsby,” by various artists (91).

TV Series: “Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season.”

Times checked out: 236

Year: 2014 (DVD release date)

Description: This season of HBO’s fantasy series about the kingdoms and creatures of Westeros scored 16 nominations at the 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runners-up: “Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season” (221); “Downton Abbey: Season 2” (184).

Movie: “Frozen.”

Times checked out: 311

Year: 2013

Description: The musical about a princess teaming up with a mountain man, a reindeer and snowman to find the princess’ estranged sister has ignited a cultural phenomenon.

Runners-up: “Despicable Me 2” (303); “American Hustle” (302).

Adult fiction: “The Goldfinch,” by Donna Tartt.

Times checked out: 227

Year: 2013

Description: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, “The Goldfinch” tells the story of a boy who loses his mother and falls into the underworld of art.

Runners-up: “Takedown Twenty,” by Janet Evanovich (220); “The Good Lord Bird,” by James McBride (194).

Adult nonfiction: “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History,” by Robert M. Edsel, with Bret Witter

Times checked out: 82

Year: 2009

Description: A special force of American and British museum directors, art historians and others attempt to preserve cultural artifacts during World War II. It was adapted into a film in 2014, directed by George Clooney.


Runners-up:
“Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” by Cheryl Strayed (81); “Orange is the New Black,” by Piper Kerman (73).

Adult audiobook: “Bossypants,” by Tina Fey.

Times checked out: 99

Year: 2011

Description: The autobiography of one of America’s most popular comedians and actors.

Runners-up: “Gone Girl,” by Gillian Flynn (88); “The Casual Vacancy,” by J.K. Rowling (67).

Teen fiction: “The Fault in Our Stars,” by John Green.

Times checked out: 219

Year: 2012

Description: Tells the story of a teenaged girl with cancer who falls in love with a teenaged ex-basketball player and amputee. It was adapted into a film starring Shailene Woodley in 2014.

Runners-up: “Allegiant” (202) and “Divergent,” (158) both by Veronica Roth.

Children’s picture book: “If You Give a Moose a Muffin,” by Laura Joffe Numeroff.

Times checked out: 140

Year: 1991

Description: Numeroff sweeps the entire category with her series that documents the consequences of giving certain animals certain things.

Runners-up: “If You Give a Dog a Donut” (138) and “If You Give a Pig a Party,” (138) both by Numeroff.

Children’s fiction: “House of Hades,” by Rick Riordan.

Times checked out: 154

Year: 2013

Description: The fourth book in the “Heroes of Olympus” series follows Percy Jackson and co. as they close the Doors of Death.

Runners-up: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever” (132) and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel” (123), both by Jeff Kinney.