Libraries Biggest Borrowers

A family of bookworms have borrowed a staggering 2044 library books in the past year.

Mum Sue Braggins, 49, said her family of 12 now consider Wainuiomata Library "a second home".

They are the top borrowers in Hutt City Council's eight libraries – taking out on average six books a day.

But Mrs Braggins is not surprised, saying the whole family are voracious readers. "I remember them saying `Wow, you've had 1500 books out,' a while ago."

Her love of reading came from her parents, she said, and it was something she wanted to pass on to her 11 children.

"I was brought up on books from the time I was little.

"I can't remember not having a book to read. The school system was also very book-orientated back then."

Hutt City Libraries customer service manager Philip Casey said the Braggins' prolific borrowing was astonishing.

The staff at the Wainuiomata Library knew them well, he said. "These children have got right into the habit of reading. That is going to serve them well for the rest of their lives."

Shannon Braggins, 20, said she had always loved books. "There's imagination involved in it. On TV you only get what you see."

Books had been in the home for "as long as I can remember", she said.

Even the youngest in the family, three-year-old Alice, loved books, Mrs Braggins said.

Bedtime stories are usually read by 21-year-old Sarah, who had a knack of reading to Alice just the way she liked it, Mrs Braggins said.

"Sarah's the queen. She's not allowed to leave home. How would the kids get to sleep at night, without her reading to them?"

The family didn't rack up too many overdue fines, she said.

Hutt City Libraries have the highest use per capita of libraries in New Zealand's 21 biggest cities.

This equates to 20 issues per person, compared to the national average of 12.3.

The Braggins' Favourite Books

Alice, 3 – Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd Taya, 5 – Beauty and the Beast, Disney version Reuben, 7 – The Buzzy Bee Book Gemma, 10 – Ice Fire by Chris DeLacy Thomas, 12 – The Alchemist by Michael Scott Ayesha, 13 – A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French Regan, 17 – The Belgariad Series by David Eddings Shannon, 20 – The Belgariad Series Sarah, 21 –The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmell Adam, 26 – Map of Bones by James Rollins Jared, 28 – Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien Sue, 49 – The New Complete Book of Self-Sufficiency by John Seymour

Story originally published in the Dominion Post 12/3/2010.