ABSTRACT
A survey of the evolution of library architecture and interior design during the latter half of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries focuses on the change from libraries primarily designed to hold paper collections, sometimes used only in the library, to libraries primarily designed to provide access to technology, digitally stored information, and research and learning spaces. The societal changes that led to the growing role of libraries as places for building community, collaborating, and engaging in independent learning are also discussed. The major components of the design process for libraries are discussed, and the design impacts on the core areas of the library are described.
