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Describes the state of libraries in England. Preparation of library budget; Behavior of the library patrons; Automation of the libraries.

This is an article about the physical state of libraries in the United Kingdom. Libraries in the UK are in bad physical shape--a "scandal that must be rectified," according to a report issued in March by Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. It would cost between £ 240 million ($462 million USD) and £ 650 million ($1.25 billion USD) to refurbish the buildings. Mark Wood, chair of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, said that the report supports "our long-held belief that until there is substantial investment in refurbishment… the other improvements we make will only be able to skim the surface." The select committee suggested that new national lottery funding might be directed to public libraries. Last spring, a report from the library advocacy group Libri also asserted that libraries were failing.