North Carolina’s largest library systems are scrambling to order more copies of Fire and Fury - the new book about the Trump White House released this month - as hold lists for the bestseller skyrocket.
As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 480 holds had been placed on Michael Wolff’s new book in the NC Cardinal library system, which serves public libraries in 40 counties around the state. In Mecklenburg County, more than 600 holds had been placed, and in Wake County, the hold list topped 1,350.
Those numbers include holds placed on all of the book's available formats - print, audiobook, and e-book.
Librarians across the state said it's unusual for a non-fiction book to garner hold lists well into the hundreds, which is more common for fictional books written by well known authors like James Patterson or Danielle Steel. Even compared to those bestselling novels, Fire and Fury’s hold list is exceptional, said Jonathan Furr of the Forsyth County Central Library, part of the NC Cardinal network.
“When the last Harry Potter came out - that’s probably the last time I remember demand for a book being so high,” Furr said.
Compounding the problem is the fact that many libraries have had difficulty purchasing enough copies to keep up with demand. In Greensboro, where the hold list is nearing 100, librarians have yet to obtain even one physical copy of the book.
A librarian at Greensboro’s Central Library said Tuesday that four copies should be arriving in the coming days, with six more copies on the way. Mecklenburg County, Wake County, and NC Cardinal have also ordered additional copies, which should arrive over the next few weeks.
