Ocnos - 25(1) - What are we reading? Reading patterns among users of Madrid’s public libraries

Aug 21, 2026

This study analyses book lending patterns within Madrid’s public library network during 2024, aiming to identify the most read authors and works and to examine differences by gender, nationality, and publication period. Using analysis of more than 1.7 million physical loans from adult and child users, results show strong concentration among a small set of highly visible, commercially popular titles. Adult readers display a clear preference for thriller fiction, while Japanese manga is prominent among the most borrowed works for both adults and children.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

National and international reading data sources

Ocnos, 25(1) (2026) . ISSN-e: 2254-9099 [https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632](https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632) What are we reading? Reading patterns among users of Madrid’s public libraries Ángel Borrego Universitat de Barcelona, Spain [borrego@ub.edu](borrego@ub.edu) Received: 11-June-2025 Accepted: 21-November-2025 Abstract This study analyses book lending patterns within the network of public libraries in the city of Madrid during 2024, with the aim of identifying the most read authors and works, as well as examining trends by gender, nationality and time of publication. Based on the analysis of over 1.7 million physical loans made by both adult and child users, the findings reveal a strong concentration of loans around a small number of authors and titles, largely those with the greatest media visibility and commercial popularity. The results also show a clear preference for the thriller genre among adult readers and a prominent presence of Japanese manga among the most borrowed titles for both adults and children. A significant overrepresentation of male authors is observed among the most borrowed, reflecting the existing gender gap in literary creation, along with a strong presence of authors from Spain and from the English-speaking world. The study concludes with a consideration of the value of analysing library lending data as a complementary source for the analysis of reading habits, offering a concrete and quantifiable snapshot of real public reading consumption. Keywords: Public libraries; Reading habits; Recreational reading; Books; Library lending. How to cite: Borrego, Á . (2026) . ¿Qué leemos? Patrones de lectura entre los usuarios de las bibliotecas públicas de Madrid. Ocnos, 25(1). [https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632](https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632) This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialNoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4 .0) Ocnos, 25(1) (2026) . ISSN-e: 2254-9099 [https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632](https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632) Quibléiolteeecmasospú? Patronesblicas deealecturadrid entre los usuarios de las Ángel Borrego Universitat de Barcelona, España [borrego@ub.edu](borrego@ub.edu) Recibido: 11-Junio-2025 Aceptado: 21-Noviembre-2025 Resumen Este estudio analiza los patrones de préstamo de libros en la red de bibliotecas públicas de la ciudad de Madrid durante 2024, con el objetivo de identificar los autores y obras más leídos, así como deexaminar las tendencias por género, nacionalidad y época de publicación. A partir del análisis de más de 1,7 millones de préstamos físicos realizados por usuarios adultos e infantiles, se detecta una fuerte concentración del préstamo en un número reducido de autores y títulos que se corresponden con los más mediáticos y populares en el circuito comercial. Los resultados revelan una clara preferencia por el género thriller entre el público adulto y una destacada presencia de manga japonés entre los títulos másprestados tanto a adultos como a menores. Se observa una sobrerrepresentación de autores masculinos entre los más prestados, que coincide con la brecha de género existente en la creación literaria, así como una fuerte presencia de autores españoles y anglosajones. Se concluye destacando el valor del análisis de los préstamos bibliotecarios como fuente complementaria para el estudio de los hábitos lectores, proporcionando una imagen concreta y cuantificable del consumo real de lectura en el ámbito público. Palabras clave: Bibliotecas públicas; Hábitos de lectura; Lectura recreativa; Libros; Préstamo bibliotecario. Cómo citar: Borrego, Á . (2026) . ¿Qué leemos? Patrones de lectura entre los usuarios de las bibliotecas públicas de Madrid. Ocnos, 25(1). [https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632](https://doi.org/10.18239/ocnos_2026.25.1.632) Este es un artículo de acce

FAQs

What does the study analyze and during which period?

The study analyses book lending patterns in Madrid’s public libraries during 2024.

How large is the dataset used for the findings?

Findings are based on analysis of more than 1.7 million physical loans from adult and child users.

Which genres and formats stand out in borrowing behavior?

The results show strong preference for thriller among adult readers and a prominent presence of Japanese manga among the most borrowed titles for both adults and children.

Aug 21, 2026

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