In an age of experimentation, library users from Cerritos, California, to Salt Lake City to Seattle are experiencing public libraries the likes of which they have never before seen. While the 1990s may be remembered as the era of the anchor facility, when libraries were called upon to define and support a community's renaissance, this decade's library projects are responding to a new set of expectations and opportunities. A key element, of course, is technology. While older buildings may have accommodated technology, today's new libraries are formed by it. Librarians are keenly aware of the competition, from the mega-bookstores to Kinko's, and retail models are also driving service and design. Rolled into this is a respect for traditional library environments that encourage quiet study and reflective learning. The goal is to be nothing less than the locus for activity in the community. This article presents four libraries in development now that take risks to expand their reach: (1) Darien Library; (2) the Free Library of Philadelphia; (3) St. Louis Public Library; and (4) the North Natomas Library. While each is unique, they all have the potential to make people think about libraries in entirely new ways.