Tennessee READS usage has grown each year since its inception in 2007. Last year, 121 public library systems worldwide surpassed one million loans. Of these, READS was the fifth highest library system for total digital distribution.
Tennessee READS is a free service provided by local public libraries statewide that participate in the Tennessee Regional Library System. The system is part of the Tennessee State Library & Archives, a division of the State Department.
Tennessee READS is supported by state and federal funds. In 2020, Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly provided additional funding, increasing READS’ overall budget by 12.5 percent. These funds were used to expand the READS online catalogue.
“We would like to thank Governor Lee and the members of the General Assembly for helping us provide Tennessee citizens with free access to fun and educational online resources,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We are proud to reach the five million checkout milestone and see the popularity of the READS program continue to grow.”
The record-breaking number of loans in the last year was driven by Tennessee READS from the 13 libraries in Tennessee with over 100,000 loans
Branches of the regional library system with more than 100,000 Tennessee READS tills in 2021:
Williamson County Public Library – 269,845
Linebaugh Public Library – 264,929
Blount County Public Library – 221,728
Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library – 179,860
Johnson City Public Library – 159.810
John P. Holt Brentwood Library – 143,761
Kingsport Public Library and Archives – 143,279
Cleveland Bradley County Public Library – 133,939
Art Circle Public Library – 116,611
Hendersonville Public Library – 112,517
Germantown Community Library—111,971
Putnam County Library – 109,376
Spring Hill Public Library – 105,971
Tennessee READS offers an extensive catalog of more than 275,000 copies of fiction and nonfiction titles including mystery, biographical and autobiographical, fantasy, children, young adult, magazine, video and more. In 2021, the most popular genre of READS was romance. New and popular titles are added every month.
Last year was the highest-circulation e-book title The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. The highest-circulation e-book non-fiction title was nomadic country by Jessica’s brother. The best-selling fiction and non-fiction audiobooks were last year Where the crayfish Singing by Delia Owens and Green light by Matthew McConaughey.
Top 5 e-book titles borrowed through Tennessee READS in 2021:
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
A Time of Mercy by John Grisham
Every breath of Nicholas Sparks
The Giver of the Stars by Jojo Moyes
Nomadland by Jessica Bruder
The top 5 audiobook titles rented through Tennessee READS in 2021:
Where the Crayfish Sing by Delia Owens
Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter
Cold Sorrow by Brenda Chapman
The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis
Green Lights by Matthew McConaughey
Through the award-winning Libby app, Tennesseans can access the READS collection at any time with an active library card from any public library in the regional library system or by calling their phone number.
In the Libby app, users can browse the extensive READS catalog of e-books, audio books, magazines and other digital media, borrow titles immediately and read, listen or watch for free. Digital content can be downloaded or streamed to any PC, smartphone, tablet or e-reader. Titles expire automatically at the end of the loan period with no late fees.
To learn more or to start using Tennessee READS, visit reads.overdrive.com or download the free Libby app from the App Store or Google Play.
