Though they are losing ground to the e-book and the audio book, libraries were once central hubs of human intellectual progress. There’s something about them that still attracts people, however – whether it’s their magnificent architecture or the unmistakable smell of books and dust, scholars and dreamers alike still enjoy perusing their hoards of literary treasures.
Because of their critical importance, libraries were often built to be beautiful and built to last. Combined with the sometimes priceless treasures that they hold, their simultaneously enormous and intimate spaces possess a charm that no other type of building can command.
If you know of any other amazing libraries that should be celebrated on this list, then please add them. You can vote for your favorite houses of knowledge as well!
1. Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland
2. The National Library Of Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
3. Biblioteca Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
5. The Admont Library, Admont, Austria
6. George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland, Usa
7. Handelingenkamer Tweede Kamer Der Staten-generaal Den Haag Iii, Netherlands
8. Austrian National Library, Vienna, Austria
9. Biblioteca Joanina, Coimbra, Portugal
10. Bibliothèque Nationale De France, Paris, France
11. The Old Public Library Of Cincinnati, Ohio, Usa
12. The City Library, Stuttgart, Germany
14. New York Public Library
15. The Iowa State Law Library, Iowa, Usa
16. Bibliothèque Sainte Geneviève, Paris, France
17. Walker Library, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Usa
18. The Oberlausitzische Library Of Science, Gorlitz, Germany
19. The Library Of Congress, Washington, D.c., Usa
21. Technical University “gheorghe Asachi” Library, Iasi, Romania
22. Bibliothèque Mazarine, Paris, France
23. Harper Library, Usa
24. Vennesla Library, Vennesla, Norway
25. The National Library Of China, Beijing, China
26. State Library Of Victoria, Australia
27. The Tripitaka Koreana Library, Haeinsa Temple, South Korea
28. Biblioteca Universidade De Coimbra, Portugal
29. Jp Morgan Library, New York, Ny
30. Palácio Nacional De Mafra, Portugal
31. Book Mountain, Spijkenisse, Netherlands
32. The Forgotten Library
33. Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge (uk)
34. National Library Of Latvia, Riga
35. Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt
36. National Library Of Chile, Santiago, Chile
37. Library Of Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
39. The Building Of University Library In Warsaw 🙂
40. 50 Szte Klebelsberg Library, Szeged, Hungary
41. Library Of Orthopedic Institute Rizzoli – Bologna
42. El Ateneo. Buenos Aires, Argentina
43. Indianapolis Central Library, Indianapolis, Usa
44. Central University Library, Leuven, Belgium
45. National Library Of Latvia, Riga
46. Uris Library At Cornell University
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