Here's what Londoners are reading and watching during the COVID-19 pandemic

As Londoners hunker down at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city's public library says there's been a surge in the number of people signing up to access online resources.

"Library e-card registrations have quadrupled in this week compared to the week before we closed," said Michael Ciccone, CEO for the London Public Library.

Anyone who registers for an online account with the library can access various resources including audiobooks, e-books and movies.

Ciccone said there hasn't been much of a change when it comes to what people are reading online since the pandemic started.

"Usually, e-books just reflect what the world is reading in print," he said. "For right now, Malcolm Gladwell, his new book is very popular, Becoming by Michelle Obama continues to be very popular."

For movies available through the library's website, Ciccone recommends watching comedies such as films based off of books written by Elmore Leonard.

"Watching things that are way too serious at this time might not be the best remedy to cure what ails you," he said.

Libraries remain closed

All public library branches temporarily closed earlier this month to protect staff and patrons from the spread of COVID-19.

The library has also cancelled all programs and events taking place at its branches until May 18.

There'll be no fines for materials currently on loan and due dates have been automatically extended.

All the library's Wi-Fi hotspots, which allow people access to high-speed internet at home, were checked out when the library's branches closed. There's no plan to get them back until they reopen.

The library has also provided two hotspots to the City of London to support organizations serving vulnerable people during the pandemic.

In January, council voted to cut funding for the Wi-Fi hotspots in this year's budget. 

Top five

Here's a list of the top audiobooks, e-books and movies being borrowed or placed on hold online through the London Public Library:

Audiobooks

1. Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell
2. Becoming by Michelle Obama
3. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones (unabridged) by James Clear

E-books

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
2. The Guardians: A Novel by John Grisham
3. The Giver of Stars: A Novel by Jojo Moyes
4. A Minute to Midnight by David Baldacci
5. The Night Fire by Michael Connelly

Movies

1. Call Me By Your Name
2. Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus
3. The Miseducation of Cameron Post
4. Paterson
5. Killing Them Softly