Abstract
The study aims to find out the changing aspects of contemporary Korean libraries so called public in terms of their spatial characteristics. In so doing, it analysed 16 recently built libraries by using the spatial depth defined in the Space Syntax theory. As the result, it could be said that the libraries were planned and designed well reflecting the world wide trend as a public institution such as an open plan, easy access, new functional spaces, and so on. It could be also said, however, that there was no difference between the previous libraries and the recent ones when the actual usage is considered. It means that the architectural attempts have been made to plan an 'open, public library', especially in terms of the spatial configuration, whereas the way of management has not been changed at all for some reasons such as the lack of staffs, security and so on. Therefore, it can be seen that the depth, one of the most important factors in the recognition of the spatial configuration, is more deepened as a form of the liner structure in the spatial configuration.
