October 19, 2026
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If you’re a first-time book club attendee or a little nervous to join a new group, here are some tips to help you jump in, participate, and have a great time.
Celebrating 125: Our Most Checked Out Books
The Library’s 125th anniversary year is wrapping up! To close our our celebrations, we’re taking a look back through time to calculate our all-time top 125 books. Unfortunately, the Library’s current circulation records only date back to the 1980s, when we made the switch from an analog to a digital catalog. So, without further ado, enjoy exploring our 125 most popular books since 1988:
The Library's Top 125 Books:
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You may have noticed a large number of the above books are for children or youth. This is because parents, caregivers, or teachers will often check out large amounts of them at a time, and classics like Dr. Seuss and “Where the Wild Things Are” have maintained their popularity for decades.
In order to get a more comprehensive picture of what Library users have been reading for the past 34 years, our acquisitions team put together another list, this time excluding children’s and middle-grade books. Check them out below:
The Library's Top 125 Books: YA & Adults
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For the past year, we’ve been collecting and telling stories and photos that capture the New Orleans Public Library’s 125-year history. Explore our collection here, and email us at impact@nolalibrary.org to share your own story!
October 16, 2026
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Every year since 2021, the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts’ Carole Barnette Boudreaux ’65 Great Writers Series has brought an internationally prominent writer to New Orleans for readings, lectures, events and panels. This fall, that author is Ocean Vuong.
October 9, 2026
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The New Orleans Public Library cut the ribbon at the Children’s Resource Center on Saturday (Oct. 3), unveiling a newly renovated space dedicated to supporting early learners and their caregivers.