Reading Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question.

In the early twentieth century, many cities built grand public libraries funded by wealthy donors. These buildings were often designed to look like temples, with tall columns and wide staircases, signaling that knowledge was something noble and freely available to all. The open-shelf system, which let visitors browse books themselves rather than request them from a clerk, was a notable change. Before this, readers often had to know exactly what they wanted in advance. Allowing people to wander among the shelves encouraged unplanned discovery and made libraries feel more welcoming to ordinary citizens.