Pack Memorial Library Releases Top Borrowed Books, Movies, Music Lists

On Dec. 30, 2025, Pack Memorial Library published its lists of the six most frequently checked-out books, movies and music for the year, offering a snapshot of what Buncombe County residents borrowed most in 2025. The selections, spanning multiple genres and formats, reflect broad community interests and the continued relevance of public libraries as places to access entertainment, information and programming without a retail price tag.

Library officials emphasized that these circulation tallies represent a cross-section of patron demand across Pack Memorial and the county’s branch network. Residents seeking to borrow materials were reminded that library cards are available at Pack Memorial and multiple Buncombe County branch locations with photo identification. The system also encouraged visits to local branches to participate in library programs and to explore both physical and digital collections.

For local households, the lists are more than cultural curiosity. Public libraries function as a form of household budget relief by substituting for purchases of books, DVDs and music, particularly for families and individuals on fixed incomes. When frequently borrowed titles circulate widely, they reduce local consumer spending on those categories and shift leisure spending toward goods and services that the library cannot provide, such as live events or dining. For policy makers and budget planners, steady or rising demand for library materials can justify investment in collections, staff and programming, while flat or declining borrowing could prompt reassessment of service models or increased emphasis on digital lending.

The 2025 top-six lists also offer guidance for programming and acquisitions. Popular titles and genres identified through circulation statistics can inform summer reading initiatives, film screenings and music events that are more likely to draw residents, thereby increasing foot traffic and associated use of other library services such as public computers, meeting rooms and educational workshops.

Longer term, tracking annual borrowing patterns helps the Buncombe County library system respond to shifts in media consumption, such as moves between physical loans and digital downloads, and to prioritize services that deliver the greatest community impact. For now, the 2025 lists signal healthy public engagement with local libraries and serve as an open invitation for residents to obtain a card, borrow materials and join library programs at Pack Memorial and branch locations across the county.