The charts below illustrate the main reasons why people used public libraries in Britain in 1991 and 2000.
From an overall perspective, the proportion of people visiting libraries to borrow or return books showed a downward trend, whereas a reverse pattern could be observed in the figures for studying and borrowing videos over the given period.
In 1991, the proportion of library visitors borrowing or returning books was highest, at 65%. The figures for obtaining information and studying were 10% and 15%, respectively. Reading newspapers or magazines, however, accounted for the lowest value, at only 10%.
In the following years, the figure for borrowing or returning books declined significantly, falling to 55% by 2000. Similarly, the data on reading newspapers or magazines also dropped to 5% over the same period. In contrast, the data on studying witnessed a marginal increase, to 20% in 2000. Likewise, the figure for borrowing or returning videos, which was not recorded in 1991, rose sharply to 18% and became one of the key reasons for library visits throughout the provided time frame.