December 31, 2017

Did you know the Marathon County Public Library is a great resource for music? Many people don't, but it's true! Each year, MCPL purchases a variety of CDs, from the latest album's featuring today's biggest hits to classic artists and albums from yesteryear.  This year's list of the top 10 most checked-out music CDs features current popular performers (Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift), as well as some compilations of today's biggest hits. Are there any artists you're surprised aren't on the list? Take a look at the list below and let us know!

Libraries Music Top 10

December 30, 2017

Sometimes, you just want to curl up and watch a good movie. And what better place to find a selection of films (for free!) than the Marathon County Public Library? This year, patrons checked out a variety of DVDs, with the top titles being a great mix of blockbuster franchises (i.e. Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe), comedies (Ghostbusters, Bad Moms) and dramas (The Accountant, Manchester by the Sea). The most checked-out movie even had more than 250 views! Which flick do you think nabbed the top spot? Are there films you're surprised didn't make the top 10? Sound off in the comments and let us know. Then take a look at the list below and consider checking out and watching the titles...

Movies Libraries Top 10

December 29, 2017

Children's literature can be a difficult category to describe, since it consists of everything from board books for infants and picture books for beginning readers to graphic novels and series like Dork Diaries for middle schoolers and tweens.Many book series remain popular year after year, including the Harry Potter, Big Nate and Captain Underpants series, with many of these books being checked out again and again and again. There are also plenty of incredible reads that are popular but not part of a book series, such as Peter Brown's The Wild Robot, R.J. Palacio's Wonder, Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon and Sara Pennypacker's Pax, to name a few. Those books might be popular with...

Books Children Top 10

December 28, 2017

With 2018 just days away, the Marathon County Public Library is reflecting upon the last year. Included in that reflection is looking at the top items checked out in several different categories, including nonfiction books.  This year's top 10 took readers to various places in time and covered a variety of topics. Readers were sent back to World War I and the sinking of the Lusitania; they visited a couple who hid people from the Nazis at their zoo during World War II; they learned techniques for tidying up their lives and becoming better people; and they learned about poverty-stricken families trying to keep a roof over their heads in Milwaukee. Take a look at MCPL's top 10 list of the most...

Books Libraries Reading Recommendations Top 10

December 27, 2017

The end of the year is fast approaching and with only a few days left of of 2017, the Marathon County Public Library is taking a look back at the past year to see what its most check-out items of the year were.  Almost everyone has a favorite fiction author. Nicholas Sparks, John Grisham, James Patterson and Sandra Brown are just a few popular names that people often look for at MCPL, and all of those names appear on this year's list of the most checked-out fiction books of 2017. There's even one author who has TWO titles in this year's top 10. Can you guess who? Take a gander at the list below and find out!

Books Libraries Reading Recommendations Top 10

September 27, 2017

We are smack-dab in the middle of Banned Books Week, which is an annual initiative organized by the American Library Association (ALA) celebrating the freedom to read.  Banned Books Weeks is all about celebrating every person's right to read whatever it is they want, Library staff, book sellers, publishers, journalists and readers across the country often tend to celebrate this week, as they continue to advocate for the expression of diverse ideas and stories, despite the attempt to censor or challenge certain titles by some folks who disagree with their content or viewpoint. Below is a list compiled by the ALA of the most-frequently challenged books of 2016, based on more than 300...

Books Challenged Books Top 10

December 29, 2016

With the new year just a few days away, we at the Marathon County Public Library are taking the time to see which materials have been the most popular with our patrons here in northcental Wisconsin. We took a look at the number of check-outs each item had and have put together lists of the most popular items in each category. Some folks don't like the idea if listening to audiobooks while others can't get enough them. After all, who doesn't love hearing a good story, right? MCPL's patrons love a good audiobook by some of the most popular authors in literature, including J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, Danielle Steele and Janet Evanovich. Take a look for yourself at the 10 most-checked out audiobooks...

Audiobooks Reading Recommendations Top 10

December 28, 2016

With just a few days left to 2016, we at the Marathon County Public Library are reflecting on the past 12 months and analyzing which materials have been the most popular with our patrons here in northcentral Wisconsin. When it comes to the top 10 most-checked out nonfiction books, it looks like many folks wanted to improve their lives in one way or another, whether it was through organizing and tidying up their personal spaces (see the top spot and #8) or through eating and living healther (#2, 5, 6, and 10).  Take a look for yourself at the 10 most-checked out adult nonfiction books of 2016 at all nine MCPL branches. Consider seeing why they're so popular by checking them out...

Books Reading Recommendations Top 10

December 27, 2016

With 2016 coming to a close, we at the Marathon County Public Library are taking a look back at the past year to see what items have been most popular with our patrons here in northcentral Wisconsin. When it comes to adult fiction, it seems that patrons can’t get enough mysteries, thrillers, and other action-packed books by popular authors like John Grisham, Janet Evanovich and James Patterson. Like the rest of the country, they have also been swept away by World War II epics like All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale, both of which spent much of the year on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Take a look for yourself at the 10 most-checked out adult fiction books of 2016 at all nine MCPL...

Books Catalogs and Collections Reading Recommendations Top 10

August 30, 2016

Hey Teens! Every year the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) posts nominees selected by teen book groups and invites teens (meaning you!) to choose their favorites. You can see the nominees and vote for your favorites at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenstopten. You can also view book trailers for the books. MCPL’s Wausau Headquarters also has a display of the nominees in the second floor Teen Zone. This year’s selection has something for everyone, including Holly Black’s latest book “The Darkest Part of the Forest,” dealing with a fairy mystery hidden deep within suburban America, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s highly anticipated “Illuminae,” a sci fi story told through...

Teens Top 10

October 1, 2012

This week is Banned Books Week! Sunday, September 30th through Saturday, October 6th. Time to celebrate the freedom to read! This annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information. (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek) Take a look at the list of books that were challenged in 2011. Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books in 2011: (Out of 326 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association) ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r(series), by Lauren Myracle Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group The Color of Earth(series), by Kim Dong Hwa Reasons: nudity; sex education;...

Challenged Books Top 10

April 5, 2012

From picture books to easy readers to older children's fiction, the staff at MCPL-Wausau list their favorite children's books! Uno's Garden by Graeme Base The Witches by Roald Dahl Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride by Kate DiCamillo The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman Olivia by Ian Falconer Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Children Reading Recommendations Top 10

September 29, 2010

This week is Banned Books Week; time to celebrate the freedom to read. The theme this year is Think for Yourself and Let Others Do the Same. See the list of books that were challenged the most often in 2009, and read a banned or challenged book today!. Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2009 (Out of 460 challenges as reported to the Office for Intellectual Freedom, American Library Association) ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle -- Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson -- Reasons: homosexuality The Perks of Being A Wallflower by...

Challenged Books Top 10