Canberra's reading habits for 2025 have been unveiled, revealing a city captivated by astronauts, culinary delights, and gripping mysteries. Data from Libraries ACT shows residents borrowed a staggering more than 1.4 million items throughout the year, with science fiction and food titles leading the charge.
Fiction, Food, and Favourite Authors
The most-borrowed title across all formats was the science fiction novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey, a story about six astronauts circling the Earth. In a notable shift from 2024's dominance by crime thrillers, food and lifestyle books made a strong showing. Nagi Maehashi's RecipeTin Eats: Tonight was the fifth most-borrowed title overall and took the top spot for non-fiction.
Local talent was prominently featured, with Canberra author Chris Hammer's mystery The Valley securing the second most-borrowed position. Hammer dominated the list of top books by ACT authors, claiming three of the five spots. Mystery and detective fiction remained perennially popular, with works from Dervla McTiernan and Richard Osman keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Young Adult Trends and Service Challenges
Young adult readers continued their love affair with fantasy and dystopian series. Suzanne Collins' Sunrise on the Reaping—a new Hunger Games novel slated for film adaptation—and Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses series were clear favourites.
This robust borrowing activity occurred against a backdrop of operational challenges for Libraries ACT. The network experienced several days-long unplanned branch closures due to staff shortages. An independent review identified systemic issues in staff management and leave planning, contributing to the disruptions.
The review noted a difficult environment marked by "historical grievances, perceived inequities, and a lack of psychological safety," which created divisions between leadership and staff. These staffing problems also led to cuts in school holiday programs and underutilisation of some larger branches, including Civic and Erindale.
Community Role and Looking Ahead
Despite the hurdles, ACT Minister for City and Government Services, Tara Cheyne, emphasised the institution's vital community role. "Libraries ACT remains one of our most valued public resources," Cheyne said. "These figures show that Canberrans have an enduring passion for stories... it's about connection, learning, and community."
Libraries ACT provides a vast catalogue and specialised services for children, families, students, new English speakers, and older residents. All branches are set to reopen under their summer operating hours from Monday, January 5, 2026.
Top Five Titles Across All Formats (2025):
- Orbital - Samantha Harvey
- The Valley - Chris Hammer
- In Too Deep - Lee Child
- The Unquiet Grave - Dervla McTiernan
- RecipeTin Eats: Tonight - Nagi Maehashi
