Eight truly amazing libraries throughout the world
Books are a chief love of many people on this planet. Before there were movies and television to entertain the masses, often reading was the only thing to do. This was, of course, assuming you were privileged enough to even know how to read. For this reason, books, our one true line of history and knowledge, were treated with reverence and awe. And the structures that people built to house them reflected this reverence and continue to do so to this very day.
Though there are hundreds if not thousands of truly amazing libraries in this world, I forced myself to pick eight that really stood out to me. In the interests of playing fair, I picked four historic libraries and four contemporary ones. Some of these are absolutely magnificent in either their interior or exterior design. Many are beautiful in both regards. If ever I get a chance to tour the world and walk the hallowed halls of these repositories of man’s knowledge in person, I will no doubt feel smarter just for doing it. If you make it through some of these regions, or any region with a great library, I highly encourage that you too take the time to enjoy what they have to offer.
Historical Libraries
Admont Abbey Library -
The Admont Abbey Library is not only one of the most beautiful, but it also happens to be the largest monastic library in the world. Placed within a monastery that is almost 1000 years old, the library hall itself was built in 1776. It has an amazing historical look, with a gold and white interior filled with gilded bookcases and marble floors. Crafted in Baroque style, its wonder is topped off with numerous frescoes and sculptures.
Andrew Dickson White Library at
This library was first built back in 1891, though the first incarnation was somewhat smaller. It has since had a secondary library spring up around it to handle its expansion. This century-old structure is reminiscent of a used book store, except much taller and more rustic. The students of
Built in 1906 in an Edwardian style, the exterior of Bristol Central Library looks like some sort of estate or small castle. And though you can’t see it in the picture I’ve provided, there are actually two more stories at basement level, exposed along the backside of the building. The interior is a bit of a contrast, featuring a classical style that uses vaulted ceilings, is decorated with antique furniture and takes advantage of many skylights to provide light.
The second largest library in the country, Coimbra General Library in
Contemporary
Jay Walker’s Private Library - Ridgefield, Connecticut
Though Jay Walker’s Private Library (also known as the Walker Library of the History of Human Imagination) is not open to the public, it still bares mentioning. This is more than just a library, being filled with both antique books and antique everything else. More than a few historically important items have found their way into this collection. The building is a multi-storied, maze-like structure that boggles the senses. And though you can’t visit it in person, there are many virtual tours and in-depth examinations of the place to be found on the Internet.
Jose Vasconcelos Library -
Built in 2006, this unique construction ended up with more than a few safety issues due to the way it was made. Thus, it was shut down until the problems were finally fixed and it was allowed to reopen in 2008. It is definitely a strange building, to say the least. This very modern looking building is almost Escher-like in design and resembles some sort of office building stripped of its interior walls and left open. The whole thing reminds me of some shopping complex out of a futuristic video game.
Philological Library of the Free University -
This one I put on the list purely because of its amazing exterior design, resembling some sort of giant, glass cocoon. Built in 2005, the Philogical Library is a four-storey structure made of translucent glass and housing more than 700,000 volumes.
Vennesla Library and Culture House -
The last on this list is the Vennesla Library and Culture House in
Book Shelf photo courtesy of Muffet via Wikicommons
Admont Library interior photo courtesy of Jorge Royan via Wikicommons
Andrew Dickson interior photo courtesy of bookriot.com
Bristol Central Library photo courtesy of Linda Bailey via Wikicommons
Coimbra Library interior photo courtesy of Wirdung via Wikicommons
Jay Walker interior photo courtesy of katefoo.com
Philological Library exterior photo courtesy of torinberl via Wikicommons
Vasconcelos interior photo courtesy of Eneas de Troya via Wikicommons
Vennesla Interior photo courtesy of Anne Kjersti Bentsen via Wikicommons
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