Creating a better place: Physical improvements in academic libraries, 1995-2002

Many academic institutions have benefited from new, expanded, renovated, or reconfigured facilities since the mid-1990s. Given current concerns about the future of the physical library and the nature of space needs, it is important to know what improvements have been made in recent facility projects and what impact these improvements have had on use of the physical library. Based on findings from a survey of 354 academic libraries, this article describes the types of projects undertaken and the kinds of improvements provided. A companion article describing the impact of these improvements on usage of the physical facility is in preparation.