diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e23059d..4565cad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,9 +33,12 @@ pip install 'masque[oasis,dxf,svg,visualization,text]'
 ## Overview
 
 A layout consists of a hierarchy of `Pattern`s stored in a single `Library`.
-Each `Pattern` can contain `Ref`s pointing at other patterns, `Shape`s, and `Label`s.
+Each `Pattern` can contain `Ref`s pointing at other patterns, `Shape`s, `Label`s, and `Port`s.
+
 
 `masque` departs from several "classic" GDSII paradigms:
+- A `Pattern` object does not store its own name. A name is only assigned when the pattern is placed
+    into a `Library`, which is effectively a name->`Pattern` mapping.
 - Layer info for `Shape`ss and `Label`s is not stored in the individual shape and label objects.
     Instead, the layer is determined by the key for the container dict (e.g. `pattern.shapes[layer]`).
     * This simplifies many common tasks: filtering `Shape`s by layer, remapping layers, and checking if
@@ -70,6 +73,31 @@ Each `Pattern` can contain `Ref`s pointing at other patterns, `Shape`s, and `Lab
     * Ports can be exported into/imported from `Label`s stored directly in the layout,
         editable from standard tools (e.g. KLayout). A default format is provided.
 
+In one important way, `masque` stays very orthodox:
+References are accomplished by listing the target's name, not its `Pattern` object.
+
+- The main downside of this is that any operations that traverse the hierarchy require
+    both the `Pattern` and the `Library` which is contains its reference targets.
+- This guarantees that names within a `Library` remain unique at all times.
+    * Since this can be tedious in cases where you don't actually care about the name of a
+        pattern, patterns whose names start with `SINGLE_USE_PREFIX` (default: an underscore)
+        may be silently renamed in order to maintain uniqueness.
+        See `masque.library.SINGLE_USE_PREFIX`, `masque.library._rename_patterns()`,
+        and `ILibrary.add()` for more details.
+- Having all patterns accessible through the `Library` avoids having to perform a
+    tree traversal for every operation which needs to touch all `Pattern` objects
+    (e.g. deleting a layer everywhere or scaling all patterns).
+- Since `Pattern` doesn't know its own name, you can't create a reference by passing in
+    a `Pattern` object -- you need to know its name.
+- You *can* reference a `Pattern` before it is created, so long as you have already decided
+    on its name.
+- Functions like `Pattern.place()` and `Pattern.plug()` need to receive a pattern's name
+    in order to create a reference, but they also need to access the pattern's ports.
+    * One way to provide this data is through an `Abstract`, generated via
+        `Library.abstract()` or through a `Library.abstract_view()`.
+    * Another way is use `Builder.place()` or `Builder.plug()`, which automatically creates
+        an `Abstract` from its internally-referenced `Library`.
+
 
 ## Glossary
 - `Library`: A collection of named cells. OASIS or GDS "library" or file.
diff --git a/masque/__init__.py b/masque/__init__.py
index 99c0201..051af54 100644
--- a/masque/__init__.py
+++ b/masque/__init__.py
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
     empty for superclasses and it is the subclass's responsibility to set them correctly.
  - File I/O submodules are not imported by `masque.file` to avoid creating hard dependencies
     on external file-format reader/writers
-
+- Try to accept the broadest-possible inputs: e.g., don't demand an `ILibraryView` if you
+    can accept a `Mapping[str, Pattern]` and wrap it in a `LibraryView` internally.
 """
 
 from .utils import layer_t, annotations_t, SupportsBool
diff --git a/masque/library.py b/masque/library.py
index 871a0e4..6f36d40 100644
--- a/masque/library.py
+++ b/masque/library.py
@@ -1,9 +1,18 @@
 """
-Library classes for managing unique name->pattern mappings and
- deferred loading or creation.
+Library classes for managing unique name->pattern mappings and deferred loading or execution.
 
-# TODO documennt all library classes
-# TODO toplevel documentation of library, classes, and abstracts
+Classes include:
+- `ILibraryView`: Defines a general interface for read-only name->pattern mappings.
+- `LibraryView`: An implementation of `ILibraryView` backed by an arbitrary `Mapping`.
+    Can be used to wrap any arbitrary `Mapping` to give it all the functionality in `ILibraryView`
+- `ILibrary`: Defines a general interface for mutable name->pattern mappings.
+- `Library`: An implementation of `ILibrary` backed by an arbitrary `MutableMapping`.
+    Can be used to wrap any arbitrary `MutableMapping` to give it all the functionality in `ILibrary`.
+    By default, uses a `dict` as the underylingmapping.
+- `LazyLibrary`: An implementation of `ILibrary` which enables on-demand loading or generation
+    of patterns.
+- `AbstractView`: Provides a way to use []-indexing to generate abstracts for patterns in the linked
+    library. Generated with `ILibraryView.abstract_view()`.
 """
 from typing import Callable, Self, Type, TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 from typing import Iterator, Mapping, MutableMapping, Sequence