The table shows the results of a survey of library users in 2012, comparing three age groups in terms of library use, assistance from librarians and attitudes towards the importance of libraries.
Overall, the youngest group used libraries more frequently. Additionally, the importance of libraries increased with age.
According to the table, the youngest group used the library the most. Around 72% of people aged 16-17 visited the library, compared with 58% of those aged 18-24 and 54% of individuals aged 25-29. A similar pattern can be seen in the percentage of people who received help from librarians. While 43% of the youngest group asked for assistance, the figure fell to 27% for those aged 18-24 and only 19% for the oldest group. However, attitudes towards the importance of libraries show a different trend. The proportion of people who believed libraries were important increased with age, rising from 54% in the youngest group to 63% and then reaching a peak of 74% among people aged 25-29.
The bar chart illustrates the main purposes for visiting the library among the three age groups. Borrowing books was the most common reason for using the library in all groups, particularly among people aged 18-24. By contrast, using the library for research was more popular among the youngest users. Borrowing newspapers was the least common activity overall, although it was slightly more common among the oldest age group compared with the others.