Special subjects

Abstract

One of the most difficult problems librarians have to contend with — a problem which, curiously enough, is all too frequently minimized — is planning a building which combines functional design with attractive architecture. Although in this respect there are certain fundamental truths that apply with equal force to all libraries, it has indeed been established that a national library, a university library and a public library have their very special and quite different building requirements. For that very reason we are all the more struck by the fact that time after time buildings have been designed in which extensive experience, gradually acquired, has not been put to good enough use, the result being that past mistakes have been repeated.