The given chart illustrates the number of books borrowed in UK public libraries between 1995 to 2005.
Overall, almost genres experienced a downward trend, while adult non-fiction increased slightly before declining. In addition, top audio-visual materials became the most popular choice, unlike Adult fiction, accounting for the least favoured genre. It is also noteworthy that there was a notable decrease in the number of children’s books, but this category still remained its position.
To begin with, top audio-visual materials and adult fiction witnessed a similar pattern. Starting at 330 millions as the second largest number of books in 1995, top audio-visual materials dropped consistently to 230 millions books in 2005, becoming the most common genre. Similarly, adult fiction also underwent a gradually fall. However, this category was more moderate than top audio-visual materials. Specifically, the number of adult fiction was 98 millions in 1995, which then declined to 60 millions, making it the least appealing type.
On the other hand, there was a slight fluctuation in the number of adult non-fiction. Starting at 107 millions books in 1995, this category grew modestly to 113 millions books in 2000, before dropping back to 104 millions in 2005. In addition, the year 2000 saw a plummet in the number of children’s books, from 1113 millions books as the dominant books in 2005 to only 161 millions in 2000, being overtaken by top audio-visual materials. This category continued to decrease steadily to 110 millions books in 2005, becoming the second common genre.
