The chart below illustrates the proportion of people who visit public libraries for various reasons in Britain in 1991 and 2000.
Overall, while the percentage of people visiting public libraries to borrow or return books increased after many decades, the shares of the other reasons decreased. Notably, in 2000, a new reason emerged that is still relevant today.
In 1991, the proportion of people borrowing or returning books in Britain was 65%. An additional 15% visited libraries to read newspapers or magazines, while about 10% came to study. The same 10% also represented those who sought information. Although these two figures were the lowest, they were still significantly large compared to the other remaining segments.
Looking at the chart from 2000, the proportion of people seeking information increased dramatically compared to the other three categories. The percentage of people borrowing or returning books, although still significant, decreased and remained the highest contributor. The percentage of those studying declined sharply to only 2% in 2000. Furthermore, a new reason for visiting public libraries became more prominent, accounting for 18% in 2000 and becoming one of the main reasons today. Additionally, the contribution of those seeking information became more crucial, increasing to 20% in 2000, compared to only 10% in 1991.