The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World

Parent Cafe
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<p>These gorgeous photos make me want to visit each and every one of them. (And it’s fun to see the beautiful libraries at both of my kids’ schools represented! )</p>

<p>Which ones have you been to? And which do you dream of visiting?</p>

<p>[Curious</a> Expeditions Blog Archive Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries](<a href=“http://curiousexpeditions.org/2007/09/a_librophiliacs_love_letter_1.html]Curious”>http://curiousexpeditions.org/2007/09/a_librophiliacs_love_letter_1.html)</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t care if a library looked like a K-Mart.</p>

<p>It’s the contents of the library that interest me.</p>

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<p>Twinmom, thanks for sharing that site. While Marian is right about the contents of the library being important, there is no reason we can’t appreciate beautiful art and architecture as well. I have to admit, I wasn’t really looking at the names when I scrolled through the pictures, so I’m not sure which ones I’ve been in aside from The Library of Congress. I’ll have to take another look later.</p>

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<p>Where’s Biblioteque Wikipedia or Google Reading Room? :)</p>

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<p>Wow. Some of those are amazing. Thanks for posting.</p>

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<p>Sorry, but the Google reading room cannot touch the fantastic information only available by visiting some of these gems or lesser gems.</p>

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<p>Wow…incredible! I can only imagine how great it would be to see them in person.</p>

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<p>I have been to a number of the libraries in the OP link. But my favorite is still the Orton Memorial Library where I spent many an hour studying as an undergrad.</p>

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<p>If there’s a heaven, and I get to go, I’m pretty sure that there’s a picture of it on that page.</p>

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<p>twinmom: Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures. My little lap top would only let me look at three or four at a time before I got the dreaded wheelie, and three or four more, and then wheelie, you get the idea, so I haven’t finished looking yet. Have to go to work. But soooooooo beautiful.</p>

<p>So far I most want to go to one in Austria – all white and gold with books on beautiful recessed shelves.</p>

<p>The chained library for rare books, such an interesting picture.</p>

<p>Thanks again. And your lucky S and D for being at schools with libraries that make the cut. A true celebration of “the life of the mind”.</p>

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<p>Wonderful pictures. I would add the library in Alexandria, Egypt. It is totally modern yet very beautiful and conducive to reading. I’m the kind of guy that thinks we have been going downhill ever since we left the Gothic, so it must be really impressive if I liked it.</p>

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<p>This made my day. The best thread ever. I have been to three of these places. Obviously, there are many many more to visit. </p>

<p>See: The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building by Henry Hope Reed (Editor), John Young Cole (Editor), Herbert Small (Editor)</p>

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<p>The Lower Reading Room of my college library:</p>

<p>[Worcester</a> College Library](<a href=“http://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/Library/photo.htm]Worcester”>http://www.worc.ox.ac.uk/Library/photo.htm)</p>

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<p>Marion, I agree that library collections are of primary importance, but these are glorious and inspiring places to crack open a book. Sadly the flat computer screen is becoming the place most people gather their infirmation.</p>

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<p>Old postcard of UW History library which has been preserved to this same look today.</p>

<p>[1929</a> State Historical Library Reading Room UWM PC - eBay (item 230199511767 end time Mar-02-08 19:28:26 PST)](<a href=“http://cgi.ebay.com/1929-State-Historical-Library-Reading-Room-UWM-PC_W0QQitemZ230199511767QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting]1929”>http://cgi.ebay.com/1929-State-Historical-Library-Reading-Room-UWM-PC_W0QQitemZ230199511767QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting)</p>

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<p>I do react to the room/building I am studying in. Although I don’t go to libraries so much to study since they are now places to hold events that make it too noisy to concentrate :frowning:
I couldn’t tell if the Hauser Memorial library was in there- I got tired of scrolling on my small screen- but nice link!
[I think this is the thesis tower](<a href=“In the Media - Reed Magazine - Reed College”>In the Media - Reed Magazine - Reed College)</p>

<p>I do appreciate being able to access things from the internet even in a coffee shop- but I also like my own school library- its pretty basic from the inside- but it has gorgeous windows and looks out onto a wooded public golf course that makes it seem like it is part of the school grounds.</p>

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<p>Oh my god, how wonderful. And I’m a librarian, too.
I have only been to three – NY Public Library, old Chicago library, and Widener at Harvard. I’ve been to so many of these places, too, (even went to Cornell, never set foot in the law library, just ugly Olin and the very pretty Andrew White reading room in Uris.) I would love to plan a trip around visiting these places!
A very beautiful small college library is the one at Knox College in Galesburg, IL.</p>

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<p>Wow…I just forwarded this link to my family…suggesting a travel-oriented theme here… If it can’t be a beach with palm trees, then I’d gladly head toward one of these…</p>

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<p>Two come to mind, the library at the British Museum is amazing. The other is the timber framed library at Bedales School (prep) south of London. It is an amazing arts and crafts building done by Gimson and Barnsley. It also has the lovely Barnsley hayrake library tables.</p>

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<p>AstrophysicsMom and dbwes: Lots of people do plan their visits around visiting cathedrals and synagogues around the world. I think the library travel theme is a great idea.</p>

<p>I’m glad so many are enjoying the photos! :)</p>