People look at one billion dollars in one of two ways: if it is the result of the long, hard effort of years of fundraising, they rejoice; if it signifies an astronomical budget deficit, they cringe. How, then, should people respond as a community to reaching the $1 billion mark ($1,242,436,438, to be exact) in this year's spending for public library construction? One would suppose with a bit of both: elation at the availability of such wealth and trembling at the enormous cost of building today. The 203 public library projects completed between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004 share features beyond the exorbitant prices in the 21st century. The 36 academic projects include the other half of those joint-use facilities, plus a number of specialized schools of law, music, science, and hotel management. This year's architectural picture remains bright, even if one does get a bit glassy-eyed when looking at the dollars involved. Still, technological adaptability, teen centers, high-tech systems, and expanded community service have their price. Now that these buildings are completed, with all that glorious innovation, people will rejoice and come to the library.