Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • News / PS/SS

“Sorcerer’s Stone” Makes New York Public Library’s Top Ten Checked-Out Books List

by Lucy O'Shea · January 14, 2020

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone has been named one of the New York Public Library system’s top ten checked-out books in history.

To celebrate the 125-year anniversary of the public library system, librarians and analysts wanted to showcase New York City’s most-loved books. The list was compiled using data from the library system, best-seller lists, and award archives.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone came in at number nine on the list, having been checked out 231,022 times in the library system’s history. And as head of book buying for New York Public Library Andrew Medlar has stated, this is quite a feat for a book that was published just over 20 years ago:

To me, it’s amazing that ‘Harry Potter’ made it onto this top 10 list.

While Sorcerer’s Stone may be a surprise entry in a list that gives an advantage to books that have been in publication for a long time, what is less of a surprise is the domination of children’s literature.

Books written for children and young readers make up six of the top ten places, with the title of number one checked-out book going to picture book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Published in 1962, The Snowy Day has been checked out by readers in New York City a staggering 485,583 times in the library system’s history.

Here are the ten most-checked-out books in the 125 years of the New York Public Library system:

1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (485,583 checkouts)
2. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (469,650 checkouts)
3. 1984 by George Orwell (441,770 checkouts)
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (436,016 checkouts)
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (422,912 checkouts)
6. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (337,948 checkouts)
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (316,404 checkouts)
8. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (284,524 checkouts)
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (231,022 checkouts)
10. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (189,550 checkouts)

This top ten list is just the start of the New York Public Library system’s 125th-anniversary celebrations.

In addition to a number of public events and commemorative merchandise, the system’s flagship location, the Mid-Manhattan Library, will be reopened in May after an extensive renovation. Check out what events are happening and stay up-to-date with all the celebrations on the New York Public Library website.

Social:

  • Next story Emma Watson Wants You to Be More Eco-Friendly with Your Clothes
  • Previous story Wizarding World Stars Nominated for National Film Awards UK

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

July 2025

Wed, Jul 2

Edward Randell's birthday
Recurs yearly

Justin Finch-Fletchley

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets book (UK)
Recurs yearly

1998

Mon, Jul 7

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 movie (London premiere)
Recurs yearly

2011

Tue, Jul 8

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book
Recurs yearly

2000

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban book (UK)
Recurs yearly

1999

WWoHP Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando's anniversary
Recurs yearly

2014

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

More than 16,000 children in the United Kingdom and United States auditioned for the role of Harry Potter.

Potter History

August 8, 2005 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire film receives a PG-13 rating, surprising fans and intriguing regular movie-goers across the United States.

Potter Quote

“Pity you can’t attach an extra arm to yours [broom], Malfoy. Then it could catch the Snitch for you.”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.