TORONTO – In a dramatic finish to the year, the Toronto Public Library (TPL) officially surpassed 14 million digital checkouts for 2025, reaching the historic milestone just hours before the New Year’s Eve countdown.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This achievement cements TPL’s status as a global leader in digital literacy and resource sharing, marking its most successful year for ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines to date.
The Race to 14 Million
The library entered the final week of December needing roughly 100,000 loans to hit the target. Fueled by holiday reading and a surge in New Year’s resolution-related checkouts, the 14-millionth loan was recorded on the afternoon of December 31, 2025.
- Growth Trend: TPL has seen a steady climb from 12 million loans in 2024, representing a nearly 17% increase in digital engagement year-over-year.
- Global Standing: This record puts Toronto neck-and-neck with the Los Angeles Public Library for the title of the busiest digital library system in the world.
- Pace of Borrowing: Throughout 2025, Torontonians borrowed an average of 1.16 million digital items every month.
What Drove the Surge?
The library attributes the record-breaking numbers to a combination of high-demand titles and improved accessibility through the Libby and Hoopla platforms.
- The “Audiobook Explosion”: While ebooks remain the most popular format, digital audiobooks saw the highest percentage of growth as residents increasingly listen during commutes and daily tasks.
- Top Genres: The “Romantasy” craze, led by authors like Rebecca Yarros, and historical fiction from Kristin Hannah dominated the holds lists for much of the year.
- Bridging the Divide: Library officials noted that the 2025 Strategic Plan, which focused on making digital content more accessible to underserved communities, played a vital role in reaching this milestone.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With this momentum, the Toronto Public Library is on a collision course with an even bigger landmark. Based on current circulation data, TPL is projected to hit 100 million all-time digital loans by the spring of 2026—a feat no other library system has yet achieved.
