Americans are voracious readers

The Americans have replaced the Japanese as the largest group of foreigners to borrow books from local public libraries, according to the Shanghai Library.

The number of foreigners holding library cards is 38,592. They are from more than 190 countries and regions — an increase of almost 30 from the previous year.

There are 7,209 Americans, followed by 6,167 Japanese and 4,878 South Koreans.

The total number of library card holders was 4,528,474, up 7.5 percent from the previous year.

A total of 839,000 readers had borrowed books from the Shanghai Library last year. On average, each of them borrowed 25.14 books. 

One reader topped the list after having borrowed 2,386 books. 

Books about literature, history, geography, travel and healthcare were the most popular books among readers of all age groups.

Japanese writer Keigo Higashino and Junichirou Watanabe and Chinese martial arts novelist Jin Yong and Nobel laureate Mo Yan are the most popular writers.

Readers read 315,072 times on WeChat and social media apps of the Shanghai Library.