What makes a library a library?

What comes to mind when you think of a library?

This question came to mind after I read an article about a new Library Express outlet in Redmond Ridge, Washington. The King County Public Library in Washington State opened a Library Express in the master planned community of Redmond Ridge. The Express outlet is unstaffed, and library patrons can enter the building by scanning or typing in their library card number. Holds/Reserve pickup, a small collection of paperbacks, a library catalog computer and a dedicated phone line to staff at the nearby Regional Library are the services available.

I've heard of other libraries installing automated Library Kiosks in transit stations or having hold pickup outlets, taking some library services out where people are. But is the library just "commodity" distribution? What about all the other things we do? What about story time? What about the book clubs? What about the library staff?

So what goes into the library experience? Is it the books? Is it the programming? Is it the computers? Is it the people?
What is your library experience and what makes a library a library?

I'd love to hear what you think.