Barcelona, January 21 – Barcelona’s libraries have reported a record year for lending in 2025, with over four million documents borrowed by citizens. Books continue to be the most requested format, accounting for 76% of all loans, according to data released by the Barcelona Library Network.
Significant Growth in Book and Digital Loans
The total number of book loans in Barcelona’s libraries increased by 2% in 2025. Even more notably, digital loans experienced an 11% surge, indicating a clear and growing preference among readers for electronic formats. This trend highlights the evolving landscape of reading habits within the city.
The Barcelona Library Network, comprising 41 facilities serving the public, emphasized that “readers’ preferences were clear” in the past year’s lending statistics.
Top Borrowed Books of 2025
The most borrowed book in Barcelona’s libraries in 2025 was ‘Canto yo y la montaña baila’ (I Sing and the Mountain Dances) by Irene Solà (Anagrama, 2019). Libraries of Barcelona described its continued popularity as “unstoppable, already converted into a contemporary classic,” despite being published six years ago.
In second place was ‘Esperando al diluvio’ (Waiting for the Flood) by Dolores Redondo (Destino, 2022), which “maintained the suspense and emotion” that had already placed it among the most read in 2024.
Children’s and Young Adult Favorites
For younger readers, the list confirms that ‘Wonder’ by R. J. Palacio (La Campana, 2012) “continues to be an essential read, repeating among the top positions.”
Children’s series continue to captivate the youngest readers. For children up to 6 years old, ‘La Escuela de Monstruos’ (The Monster School) series by Sally Rippin (Montena, 2022) maintained its strong leadership. Among children aged 7 to 10, the ‘Susanna Isern Magic Animals’ series (Estrella Polar, 2023) stood out. Jeff Kinney’s ‘Diary of Greg’ series (Estrella Polar, 2015-) remained a reference for children aged 11 and above.
Manga Dominates Comics Section
In the comics category, 2025 confirmed the hegemony of manga, with several collections consistently appearing in the top positions. For adults, the leading borrowed manga titles included ‘My Hero Academia’ (Planeta Cómic, 2016-), ‘Guardianes de la noche’ (Demon Slayer) (Norma, 2019-), and ‘Spy x Family’ (Ivrea, 2019-).
Library User Demographics and Habits
According to Barcelona City Council, 50% of its citizens hold a library card, and users visit libraries an average of eight times a year. Women comprise a larger proportion of registered users, exceeding men by almost ten percentage points (55% women / 45% men).
Among adults, the most common user profile is someone who is employed, has a medium to high level of education, and possesses good technological knowledge.
The City Council also noted that “more than 22% of registered individuals are of non-EU origin, a percentage similar to their representation in the city.” This highlights the library network’s role in providing free access to information and knowledge for all citizens and promoting reading across diverse communities.
Source: telecinco.es
