The pie charts provide data on the visitors to libraries that cater to the masses and the main reasons for visiting in Britain in 1991 and 2000. From an overall perspective, it is evident that the proportion of obtaining information gained significant popularity, whereas the remaining purposes became less prevalent. In addition, a new service was introduced known as borrow or return videos that came into use over the period.
In 1991, the percentage of users visiting communal libraries in order to borrow and return books was the largest, standing at 65%. The figure for those coming to read newspaper or magazine was lower, at 15%. The other two categories, on the other hand, accounted for an identical value, at 10%.
In 2000, the share of people going to libraries to obtain information experienced a notable rise to 20%. Meanwhile, the figures for reading newspapers or magazines and borrowing or returning books both saw a 10% decline, falling to 15% and 55% respectively. Furthermore, the proportion of those coming to libraries to study witnessed a significant decline to just 2% in the last stage. In 2000, a latest line for borrowing and returning videos was introduced, which stood at 18% in the same year.