The world's most incredible libraries you can visit
A book lover's bucket list
The recent opening of China’s ultra-modern Tianjin Binhai Library (pictured) turned the heads of bibliophiles the world over. Its futuristic design is complete with undulating shelves from floor to ceiling, a giant spherical atrium and, most importantly, space for more than one million books. Inspired? Here we reveal 30 of the most amazing libraries you can visit around the world.
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, England
Dating back to 1602, the Harry Potter-esque Bodleian is Oxford University's main library. Its shelves hold more than 12 million volumes and it is second in size only to London’s sprawling British Library. Visitors can explore the building on guided tours, while regular exhibitions showcase its most fascinating materials.
National Library of Latvia, Riga
The triangular National Library of Latvia sits on the bank of the River Daugava, in stark contrast with Riga’s quaint old town, just across the water. Dreamt up by American-Latvian architect Gunnar Birkert in 2014, the library has earned the moniker “The Castle of Light”, both for its innovative design and its huge roster of cultural events. Hour-long tours of the complex run from Monday through to Friday.
New York Public Library, USA
A beautiful Beaux-Arts building in the heart of Manhattan, the current New York Public Library was dedicated in 1911. Since then, it has spent a fair amount of time on the silver screen. The Rose Main Reading Room, with its neat wooden benches and frescoed ceilings, has appeared in the likes of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and cult hit Ghostbusters. There's no admission fee, and many of the events and exhibitions here are free too.
Stuttgart City Library, Germany
Modern and minimalist, the Stuttgart City Library opened in 2011 to much applause. Characterised by its clean lines, white-washed walls and zigzagging staircases, it was the brainchild of German-based firm Yi. It’s free to enter and, if you can put down your book, there are fabulous views of downtown Stuttgart from the top floor.
Strahov Monastery Library, Prague, Czech Republic
This beautiful monastic library is perched atop Prague’s Petřín Hill. It is dominated by two halls, the Philosophical Hall and the Baroque Theological Hall, each with intricate frescoes, antique globes and thousands of tomes apiece. The latter is the oldest, dating back to the 1670s. Unfortunately, due to preservation efforts, you can’t wander freely within the halls – you must view them from the doorway. But the masterful Baroque architecture here means the library is still well worth a visit.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
A saucer-shaped marvel in Egypt’s second city, today’s Bibliotheca Alexandrina owes its sci-fi design to a Norwegian firm named Snøhetta. The modern version is built to honour the original, ancient Library of Alexandria, one of the most important libraries in the classical world. Aside from the striking main reading room, the complex also supports several fascinating museums and a varied programme of events.
Boston Public Library, USA
Finished in 1895, the Boston Public Library holds a staggering 23 million items, from manuscripts to musicians’ scores. Cavernous Bates Hall is the most famous reading room here, and its vivid green lamps and bronze and marble busts make it the most impressive too. Visitors can wander through the library independently, or take advantage of a free guided tour.
National Library of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
This is Brazil’s most important library, a Neoclassical treasure trove chronicling the country’s history in more than nine million items. A highlight is the Teresa Cristina Maria collection: a 22,000-strong photo series, depicting key Brazilian events and notables. Entry and guided tours are free.
Old Library, Trinity College, Dublin
The Old Library is home to the famous Book of Kells, an adorned medieval manuscript containing the four gospels, and dating back to AD 800. Another highlight is the Long Room, the library's main chamber. Stretching for more than 200 feet, it's a passage of carved wood and vaulted ceilings, holding around 200,000 books. A small entry fee will grant you access to the library itself and some temporary exhibitions.
Liyuan Library, Jiaojiehe, China
Blink and you’ll miss this little library on the outskirts of Beijing. Chinese architect Li Xiaodong designed it to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings. The glass roof and walls are lined with firewood, arranged in neat rows so just enough light feeds into the interior. The inside is filled with rows of Chinese classics and day-trippers escaping the bustle of Beijing.
Admont Abbey Library, Austria
Tucked in the Benedictine abbey of Admont, this is the largest monastic library on Earth. It sprawls for 230 feet, gilded with gold and dotted with Baroque statues. Most impressive is the detailed, domed cupola which soars to more than 40 feet. The library is open March through to December, with out-of-season tours available on request.
Royal Library, Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen’s library had a sleek upgrade in 1999, as the “Black Diamond” extension was completed. Bold and brilliant, it dominates the riverside, mirroring the water in its glassy facade. The Royal Library holds all the works printed on Danish soil since the 1600s – you can peruse them for free, or take part in a guided tour for added context.
George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA
Intricate balconies and the airiest of atriums characterise this Baltimore library. Built in 1878, it’s a beautiful piece of the Johns Hopkins University, and is affectionately nicknamed the “Cathedral of Books”. Today, it functions mainly as an events space, but the extensive collection is still open to the visiting public.
Library of Birmingham, England
Resembling a large blue and gold layer cake, Birmingham’s futuristic library opened in 2013. The modern theme continues on the inside, with 10 sleek, book-laden storeys. The Shakespeare Memorial Room is a highlight – occupying the top floor, it holds more than 43,000 Bard-related books, including a copy of the revered First Folio. It’s the largest public library in Europe, and is free to explore.
El Escorial Monastery Library, Spain
This ornate library is housed in the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, not far from the sun-baked streets of Madrid. Gilded and golden, it swells with wooden bookshelves and works by old masters. A fire in 1671 destroyed some notable works, but today some 40,000 books survive. Tourists can visit the library on a tour of the mountain monastery.
Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Canada
Opened in 1876, Ottawa’s Gothic parliamentary library is a repository for more than 600,000 items. A large marble statue of Queen Victoria dominates the main reading room, which is carefully decorated with carved wood. Millions of dollars were pumped into the library in the early 2000s to spruce up this important Canadian landmark. Visitors can explore the renovated building as part of a full parliamentary tour.
Geisel Library, San Diego, USA
This spaceship-like building could be straight out of a sci-fi movie. It’s actually the principal research library for the University of California, and is open to the public too. Designed by American architect William Pereira, the glass structure appears almost as if its floating, held firm by the cradle-like concrete at its base. More than seven million academic materials live inside. You can visit the library by guided tour only.
Nakajima Library, Akita, Japan
This sleek library belongs to Akita International University and is proudly known as the “library that never sleeps”. Its design is based on Rome’s Colosseum, brought to life with fan-like beams and a bold, semi-circular atrium. Tucked within the university's woody campus, Nakajima is open day and night, all year round – it caters to students and book-loving members of the general public.
Adelaide's State Library of South Australia
This state library dates back to the 1800s, situated on what's now known as “Adelaide’s cultural boulevard”. In fact, the idea for this library predates European settlement here: English pilgrims conceived of Adelaide’s library before they left British soil in 1836. You can’t take materials away from the library, but you can enjoy them on one of the free themed tours.
Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris, France
This is the oldest public library in France, a magnificent building boasting some 600,000 volumes. The institution prides itself on its rare manuscripts. Some of the most treasured are held in the Incunabula Collection, a store of early French, Italian and Flemish works dating as far back as the 1400s. Visitors can wander the library independently on weekdays or hop onto one of the free guided tours.
Beitou Library, Taipei, Taiwan
A stone’s throw from this region’s famous hot springs, Beitou is touted as Taiwan's first “eco library”. The library flaunts its green credentials with a solar-panelled roof, eco-friendly paint and rainwater-powered facilities. The wooden building peeks out from the green surrounds of Beitou Park and is free to explore.
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy
This beautiful library has a prime location on Venice's St Mark’s Square, right next to the Doge’s Palace. The ongoing vision for a state library in the city was finally set in motion in 1468, when Cardinal Bessarion of Byzantium donated a selection of books. But the current building wasn’t completed until the 1600s, to an intricate design by master Italian architect Jacopo Sansovino. Tickets to the Doge’s Palace include entry to the library.
Mexico City's Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico
A shrine to books in Mexico City, Biblioteca Vasconcelos is often described as a “megalibrary”. Unassuming from the outside, it’s a vast maze of suspended bookshelves and balconies inside. In fact, the library stretches across more than 400,000 square feet. There isn’t an English-language section here, but it’s worth a visit for the curious architecture alone.
Biblioteca Joanina, University of Coimbra, Portugal
A Baroque masterpiece and university library, Biblioteca Joanina holds around 60,000 volumes. Dating back to 1717, it is unashamedly lavish with frescoes and fine art at every turn. Entry is timed and ticketed, and the whole university complex is worth exploring. Close to the library is the Academic Prison, a basement where rule-breaking students were held.
Port Elizabeth Library, South Africa
Occupying the corner of Port Elizabeth’s Market Square, this terracotta construction has been open to the public since 1902. It started life as a meeting place for the Port Elizabeth News Society and grew into a busy public library, which it still functions as today. The library is free to browse, and it’s a proud stop on many a walking tour around the city.
Sir Duncan Rice Library, Aberdeen, Scotland
This is the University of Aberdeen's library and it's as impressive a feat inside as it is out. The exterior is a huge, glass cube, while its interior is dominated by swirling white staircases and row upon row of academic texts. Members of the public can obtain a free access pass so long as they present identification.
Seattle Central Library, USA
This glossy library in downtown Seattle is certainly a head turner. A haphazard-looking stack of glass blocks, it looks almost ready to topple. Inside, the vast, light-filled atrium is the perfect spot for a long afternoon’s reading – and there are more than one million titles to choose from. You can explore the library independently or by guided tour, and you shouldn’t miss the regular art displays that pop up across the venue.
David Sassoon Library, Mumbai, India
David Sassoon was a successful Mumbai banker, whose donations allowed for an institute of mechanics to be opened. That institute became the David Sassoon Library, which has been in its current location in the heart of Mumbai since 1870. Today, students still use the library as a place of study and tourists come here to escape the rush of the city.
Philological Library, Berlin, Germany
Dreamt up by English architect Norman Foster, the shape of this contemporary library was inspired by the human skull – in fact, it’s earned itself a fitting nickname, the “Berlin Brain”. The library belongs to the Free University of Berlin and its modern atrium is filled with as many swotting students as architecture buffs. Entry is free.
De Krook, Ghent, Belgium
Characterised by its protruding top level, De Krook is a library-cum-community space in the charming city of Ghent. It’s a jarring sight next to its medieval surrounds, but its design has been praised enthusiastically by those in the know. Visitors are able to enter for free and enjoy the winning combination of curious collections, great exhibitions and city panoramas.
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