In honor of the New York Public Library's 125 Anniversary, a team of experts at the Library analyzed a series of factors to compile—for the first time ever—the 10 books that have been borrowed most since The New York Public Library was founded in 1895.
Ridgefield beloved author Maurice Sendak Caldecott award winner, Where The Wild Things Are makes the top 10 list, coming in at number 4 with 436,016 checkouts!
Sendak, who lived in Ridgefield for forty years, passed away in 2012. According to his Foundation, Sendak was a self-taught artist who illustrated over one hundred books during his sixty-year career.
According to the New York Public Library's Press Release, this Anniversary year will focus on appreciating and reaffirming the Library’s values of trust, inclusion, respect, and free and open access to information and knowledge, as well as its unique role supporting a true love of reading. The celebration will include special author talks, book lists, public programs, the much-anticipated reopening of the system’s completely renovated central circulating library, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, and the opening of the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library Treasures, a permanent, free exhibition showcasing items from the Library’s robust research collections.
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats / 485,583 checkouts
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The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss / 469,650 checkouts
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1984 by George Orwell / 441,770 checkouts
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Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak / 436,016 checkouts
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To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee / 422,912 checkouts
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Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White / 337,948 checkouts
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Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury / 316,404 checkouts
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How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie / 284,524 checkouts
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling / 231,022 checkouts
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle / 189,550 checkouts
Learn more about the Library's 125th Anniversary Celebration here.