This paper proposesthat librarians could be more aggressive in their search
for simplicity, or "nser-friendliiiess", in the design of library buildings. Althoughthe
professional literature of librarianship has been largely silent onthe matter, substantial
bodies of research have been published in otherdisciplines--sociology,
psychology,marketing, and geography, for example@on how to make
architecturalspaces of any kind easy and comfortable for people to use effecivelyand
economically. This paper citesthree ways in which research findings from other fields
could havemade many library buildings simplerfor their patrons to use. They include:
(1) configuring the interalservices of library buildings morerationally; (2) laying out
libraryfurniture more in accord with thepatrons' best interests; and (3) considering
"human" needs more fully inthe design of library spaces andequipment.