The charts provide an overview of Little Chalfont Library, showcasing the age distribution of its members and a breakdown of book loans by category in 2016, alongside the total number of items borrowed between 2007 and 2016.
Overall, the library’s membership was heavily dominated by adults aged 18 to 64, while fictional material for both adults and children made up the vast majority of items borrowed. Over the ten-year period, the total number of library loans followed a general upward trend, despite minor fluctuations.
Looking at the demographic data for 2016, adults aged 18-64 constituted just over half of all library members at 51%. Children were the next largest user base at 22%, followed by young adults aged 13-17 at 15%. Senior citizens (aged 65 and over) represented the smallest membership segment at 12%.
In terms of borrowing habits in 2016, fiction was by far the most popular choice. Children’s fiction and adult fiction each accounted for an identical, dominant share of total loans at 38% each. Conversely, non-fiction was less sought after, with adult non-fiction standing at 13% and children’s non-fiction at just 6%. Digital and audio media saw the lowest demand; young adult books, adult audiobooks, and children’s DVDs combined represented a mere 5% of all loans.
Regarding overall activity between 2007 and 2016, the library experienced a steady growth in demand. Total loans began at roughly 16,000 in 2007 and grew to just over 20,000 by 2010. Borrowing figures remained relatively stable for the rest of the decade, hovering around 20,000 to 21,000 loans annually, before peaking at just under 22,000 in 2016.