@BookNet_Canada shares insights into buying and borrowing of Family & Relationships titles during the second quarter of 2023.
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Welcome back to Subject spotlight, the blog series where we give you quarterly data-driven insights into a specific corner of the Canadian book market.

In our previous post, we shared sales and library circulation data for the Non-Fiction / Games & Activities BISAC subject. This time, we’ll be focusing on the performance of the Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships subject during the second quarter of 2023, with the help of our SalesData and LibraryData services.

Buying Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships

As shown in the graph below, the sales of Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships titles were slightly higher during the second quarter of 2022 compared to 2023, with year-over-year sales dropping by 4% in April, staying flat in May, and decreasing by 5% in June.

In 2022, sales increased by 20% from April to June. This is also true for 2023 where sales from April to June increased by 18%.

In 2023, sales increased by 1% from April to May and continued to increase from May to June (18%).

In 2022, sales decreased by 3% from April to May and went back up by 25% from May to June.

Line graph comparing book sales between April, May, and June 2022 and 2023 in the Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships BISAC category.

These are the BISAC subcategories with the highest year-over-year increase in sales:

Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Multiracial Families — up 1,000%;
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Prejudice — up 836%; and
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Education — up 387%.

From April to June 2023, the most purchased Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships subcategories were:

Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Parenting — 31% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships sales;
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Love & Romance — 25% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships sales; and
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD-ADHD) — 5% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships sales.

Borrowing Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships

In terms of library circulation, as shown in the graph below, the second quarter of 2023 outperformed 2022.

Year-over-year loans increased by 63% in April, 64% in May, and 50% in June. Overall, the loans of Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships saw an increase of 15% in the second quarter of 2023. A fairly significant change compared to the 26% increase in loans from April to June 2022.

Year-over-year renewals saw an increase of 68% in April, 79% in May, and 72% in June. In the second quarter of 2023, the renewals of Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships increased by 20%. In 2022, the increase in renewals for this quarter was 18%.

Line graph comparing book loans and renewals between April, May, and June 2022 and 2023 in the Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships BISAC category.

Which Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships subcategories were the most popular in Canadian libraries? From April to June 2023, these subcategories saw the greatest increases in library circulation compared to 2022:

Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Military Families — loans up 900% and renewals down 50%;
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Family History & Genealogy — loans up 800% and renewals up 400%; and
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Prejudice — loans up 425% and renewals up 255%.

During the second quarter of 2023, the most circulated Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships subcategories were:

Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Parenting — 37% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships loans and 41% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships renewals;
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Life Stages — 11% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships loans and 13% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships renewals; and
Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships / Love & Romance — 11% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships loans and 8% of all Non-Fiction / Family & Relationships renewals.