[CentOS] c++ Development question

Hello Centos user.
Im learning about c/c++ , so far every thing works great.
The problem begins when I try to install a new library or a third party api.
For example now I need to install the jsoncpp implementation in my 
centos box but I have no idea how to do it.
I realized that my knolowge about those things is very poor.
I would like to ask you for some documentation about libraries 
directories layout regarding  c/c++ programing.
Im not interested in the languaje it self but how to prepare my server 
to succesfully compile c/c++ programas.

I hope someone can help my on this.
Regards,
Leo.