ABSTRACT
The truly modern library building began its existence after World War II, although some earlier buildings have strikingly modern features. The more than 30 years since 1945 have seen the construction of thousands of new library buildings, many additions to older buildings, and the development of library areas or rooms within large, multipurpose buildings. These libraries have ranged in size from massive university and central public libraries to small branch buildings and even smaller library rooms and spaces in academic buildings and governmental and corporate structures (see Figs. 1 to 4).
