Book loans at three library branches

The bar chart compares the number of book loans at the River, Park and Hill branches of a town library in 2015 and 2025. The figures are given in thousands.

Overall, total borrowing increased, although the three branches did not follow the same pattern. River was the busiest branch at the beginning, but Park had taken first place by 2025. Hill remained the least busy location in both years.

In 2015, River recorded 42,000 loans, compared with 30,000 at Park and 18,000 at Hill. River therefore lent out 12,000 more books than Park and more than twice as many as Hill. Together, the branches recorded 90,000 loans.

Ten years later, the figure for River had fallen to 36,000. In contrast, Park rose to 45,000 and Hill to 27,000, increases of 15,000 and 9,000 respectively. Both of these branches grew by 50 percent. The total reached 108,000, which was 20 percent above the 2015 figure. Park’s lead over River in the final year was 9,000 loans.

Why it works

• The overview identifies the change in leader and the contrasting trends.
• The totals are 42 + 30 + 18 = 90 and 36 + 45 + 27 = 108 thousand; growth is 18/90 = 20 percent.
• No explanation for the changes is invented because the chart supplies numbers, not causes.