What were the books Butte County readers checked out again and again in 2025? In this episode of Library-ish, we’re taking a look at the most popular titles borrowed from the Butte County Library — the books that flew off the shelves, racked up holds, and became true community favorites.We’ll talk about the reading trends that shaped the year and what these top checkouts say about what our community loves to read. Then, at the end of the episode, we’ll shift our focus to the year ahead and share the books we’re personally most excited to read in 2026 — from fiction to nonfiction and everything in between.Whether you’re looking for your next great read, curious about what your neighbors loved this past year, or already building your reading list for the new year, this episode is a great place to start.The Library-ish Podcast delves into libraries & librarianship within the context of culture and community. Library-ish podcast: https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod Butte County Public Library website: https://www.buttecounty.net/528/Library Our programming calendar: https://buttecounty.librarycalendar.com/events/month

Settle in with Traci and January for a cozy literary journey around the world as we explore real winter reading traditions that make this season perfect for stories, candles, and long nights with a good book.

In this episode, we travel through:

🕯️ Sweden’s mysiga stunder — the art of creating “cozy moments,” where winter reading becomes a slow, intentional ritual surrounded by warmth, candles, and comfort.

📚 Iceland’s Jólabókaflóð — the beloved “Christmas Book Flood,” when families exchange books on December 24 and spend the night reading with cocoa or jólaöl.

🌙 Iran’s Yalda Night — the ancient winter solstice celebration marked by poetry recitation, especially Hafez, as families gather to welcome the longest night with stories and light.

🎄 Germany’s Advent Reading Nights — including chapter-a-day Advent books and Adventslesungen hosted in libraries and homes throughout December.

📖 Japan’s fuyu no dokusho — the nationwide “winter reading season,” supported by seasonal book lists, school reading weeks, and library programs.

🍃 Scotland’s Winter Storytelling Tradition — rooted in Celtic folklore, long nights, and oral storytelling gatherings that continue today through community events and library programs.

Plus: a look at why winter becomes the natural global reading season — psychologically, culturally, and historically.

Grab a warm drink, wrap up in a blanket, and join us for a tour of winter bookish traditions from across the world.

The Library-ish Podcast delves into libraries & librarianship within the context of culture and community.

Library-ish podcast: ⁠https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod⁠

Butte County Public Library website: ⁠https://www.buttecounty.net/528/Library⁠

Our programming calendar: ⁠https://buttecounty.librarycalendar.com/events/month

Join Traci & January for a cozy holiday episode of Library-ish as they unwrap Butte County’s most-checked-out titles of 2025, share their personal favorites, and recommend their most anticipated new and upcoming books to give (or keep!) this season.

📚 Borrow these & many more titles for free through your local library — or find them on Libby & Hoopla!

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Library-ish Podcast delves into libraries & librarianship within the context of culture and community.

Library-ish podcast:⁠https://www.buttecounty.net/2085/Library-ish-the-Butte-County-Library-Pod⁠

Butte County Public Library website: ⁠https://www.buttecounty.net/528/Library⁠

Our programming calendar: ⁠https://buttecounty.librarycalendar.com/events/month

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