Libraries feel the heat in Fifty Shades frenzy

It's the steamy book that has sent the pulses of housewives across the nation racing – and now libraries in the region are also feeling the heat.

Branches in Staffordshire and the Black Country are having to order dozens more copies of Fifty Shades of Grey to keep up with demand.

The erotic best seller by EL James has been flying off the shelves and waiting lists have reached unprecedented levels with calls also high for the other books in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.

Sandwell Council's library service has ordered an extra 30 copies of each of the three books, doubling the number they originally had on the shelves.

Sandwell's library service has also decided to pilot a shorter loan period of two weeks in a bid to help customers borrow the books as quickly as possible.

Wolverhampton's 16 libraries originally had just one copy each of the three titles but Wolverhampton City Council has now ordered a further 24 sets, a total of 72 books. This gives each library one additional trilogy each.

Also the five libraries in the city which offer a "bestseller" list have received one extra copy of the trilogy, and Central Library, the main library in the city, has been given an additional three copies of the trilogy.

Staffordshire County Council have also had unprecedented demand for the books. They originally bought 32 copies in May and had over 150 requests to borrow it. They have now ordered a further 17 copies, and bosses admit they may have to order more.

Culture boss at Staffordshire County Council,Councillor, Pat Corfield, said: "This particular title has become very popular with Staffordshire readers."