This year at the Salem Public Library, wimpy kid Greg Heffley reigned supreme, Oppenheimer and Barbie competed for a top spot and Uni the Unicorn retained her crown in the picture books category.There were over 1 million checkouts at the Salem Public Library in 2024, according to data from City Librarian Bridget Esqueda. Some titles, items and cultural passes were checked out again and again. Here are the most popular library checkouts for Salemites this year, including books, DVDs and things. See last year’s rankings here.Esqueda and library staff also shared their favorite reads of the year. Top Five Checkouts Toddler Totes (themed bags with books and activities, like penguins and potty training) Cultural Pass: Gilbert House Children’s Museum Cultural Pass: Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum Cultural Pass: Oregon Garden Cultural Pass: Portland Japanese Garden Adults Top Five Adult Fiction “The Women” by Kristin Hannah was the most checked out adult fiction book at the Salem Public Library in 2024. (Goodreads) The Women by Kristin Hannah Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride The Inmate by Freida McFadden Top Five Adult Nonfiction “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt was the top checked out adult nonfiction book at the Salem Public Library this year. (Goodreads) The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Atomic Habits by James Clear I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy Why Didn’t You Tell Me? by Carmen Rita Wong (This is the 2025 Salem Reads pick.) Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia Teens Top Five Teen Fiction “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins was the most-read teen fiction book at the Salem Public library in 2024. (Goodreads) The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson The Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Top Five Teen Graphic Novel Series “One-Punch Man” was the favorite graphic novel for teens at the Salem Public Library in 2024. (Goodreads) One-Punch Man Komi Can’t Communicate My Hero Academia Yona of the Dawn Jujutsu Kaisen Top Five Teen Nonfiction The “Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Player’s Handbook” was the top nonfiction checkout for teens at the Salem Public Library this year. (Goodreads) Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook Beautiful LEGO by Mike Doyle All Boys Aren’t Blue by George Johnson The Boys In the Boat by Daniel James Brown Cute Chibi Animals: Learn How to Draw 75 Cuddly Creatures by Phoebe Im Children Top Five Children’s Picture Books “Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal was the most popular picture book at the library for the second year in a row. (Goodreads) Uni the Unicorn and the Dream Come True by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Princess in Training by Tammi Sauer Magical Worlds; Illustrated By Nicoletta Baldari Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems Top Five Children’s Fiction Rodrick Rules, the second book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, topped the 2024 children’s fiction checkouts list dominated by the series. (Goodreads) (All five are from the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney) Rodrick Rules Hard Luck Double Down Wrecking Ball No Brainer Top Five Children’s Fiction Series Diary of a Wimpy Kid was the favorite children’s series at the Salem Public Library in 2024. (Goodreads) Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey Percy Jackson and the Olympians By Rick Riordan Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland The Wild Robot By Peter Brown Top Five Children’s Nonfiction “I Spy” was the top children’s nonfiction checkout at the Salem Public Library in 2024. (Goodreads) I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles by Walter Wick Guinness World Records 2024 National Geographic Kids Almanac Totally Random Questions by Melina Gerosa Bellows The Big Book of Hacks for Minecrafters by Megan Miller Top Five Children’s Graphic Novel Series “The Baby-Sitters Club” was the top graphic novel for kids at the Salem Public Library in 2024. (Goodreads) The Baby-Sitters Club Sonic the Hedgehog Big Nate Splatoon Pokémon Adventures Top Five Library of Things Otamatone: Japan’s favorite musical toy Electric pressure washer: Craftsman Laptop Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go: 4G LTE Mobile Internet service included Electric knife sharpener: Chef’s Choice Laptop Samsung Galaxy Book Go: no Internet service included Top Five DVDs Oppenheimer Barbie The Holdovers Freelance Hypnotic Staff picks City Librarian’s Favorites “Fourth Wing” was a favorite read of City Librarian Bridget Esqueda this year. (Goodreads) Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros HBR’s 10 Must Reads: The Essentials A.K.A Lucy: The Dynamic and Determined Life of Lucille Ball by Sarah Royal Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life by Eric Klinenberg Wonder by R.J. Palacio Staff Favorites Fiction On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong All Fours by Miranda July Yellowface by R. F. Kuang Land of Milk and Honey by C. Pam Zhang Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan Palestine +100: Stories from a Century after the Nakba edited by Basma Ghalayini As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 by M.E. O’Brien and Eman Abdelhadi Indecent by Paula Vogel Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati Faebound by Saara El-Arifi Graphic Novels Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatani My Brother’s Husband by Gengoroh Tagame Horror Salem library staff loved “Monstrilio” this year. (Goodreads) Chlorine by Jade Song Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova Piñata by Leopoldo Gout Nonfiction, memoir and perspective On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies by Julian Aguon Deeper by Dane Ortlund Messy Roots by Laura Gao  Young Adult Salem library staff enjoyed “The Buried and the Bound” this year. (Goodreads) Exes & Foes by Amanda Woody Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli The Secret Language of Birds by Lynne Kelly The Buried and the Bound by Rochelle Hassan Children El Peor Teddy del Mundo by Marcelo Verdad El Pedito by Géraldine Collet Let’s Go! by Julie Flett Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post The library books, movies and things Salem loved in 2024 appeared first on Salem Reporter.