
Homer A. Plessy Day was established on June 7, 2005, to honor the trailblazing Civil Rights activist who stood up against segregation in 1892.
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:
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:
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!

Homer A. Plessy Day was established on June 7, 2005, to honor the trailblazing Civil Rights activist who stood up against segregation in 1892.

Celebrate Pride Month with events, activities, and reading recommendations from the New Orleans Public Library.

The New Orleans Public Library and Junior League of New Orleans partner to provide monthly period supply kits for free.
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