Forget candy, forget honey. Books are the sweetest substance ever sold. Books hold information that helps us learn. And learning is crucial for the proper growth and development of the human race. In the words of Theophrastus, “The man of learning is the only person in the world who is neither a stranger in a foreign land, nor friendless when he has lost his intimates and relatives; on the contrary, he is a citizen of every country, and can fearlessly look down upon the troublesome accidents of fortune. But he who thinks himself entrenched in defenses not of learning but of luck, moves on slippery paths, struggling through life unsteadily and insecure.
Learning is very crucial to human existence. As important as learning is, it will be quite a task (mentally, financially, and physically) for a single individual to acquire enough materials for his/her learning; hence emerged the need and relevance of libraries.
Beautiful Libraries make learning materials readily available for citizens of the earth to access. John Lubbock, once said, and indeed it is true “We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”, whether you are reading in your local, simple library or in one of those majestic university libraries, you will feel the charm! The relevance of libraries in the world can never be overemphasized. The Architect, as the head of the building team, must make conscious decisions to make these libraries functional, aesthetically pleasing, and comfortable.
What are the most beautiful libraries in the world?
There are many beautiful libraries scattered through the earth. A list of these libraries will run into hundreds. Right now, I will be sharing 10 beautiful libraries in our world.
1. George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA
George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA
This beauty can be witnessed at John Hopkins University. The atrium, the ornamental balconies, the perfect harmony between steady structure and outstanding aesthetics, and the daylight filtering through the decorated ceiling – these are all reasons to call the George Peabody Library “The Cathedral of Books”.
2. Klementinum library, Prague, Czech Republic
National Tecnical Library in Prague, Projektil Architekti
Established in the historical center of Prague, the Klementinum complex is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Klementinum housed the first weather recording in the area of the Czech Lands, and the recordings are still happening there till today. The complex now hosts national, technical, and university libraries.
3. Jay Walker’s Library, Connecticut, USA
Courtesy of reddit
The Walker Library of The History of Human Imagination is a private library that belongs to Jay Walker; an American entrepreneur. The innovative mind of Jay Walker narrates, through books and art pieces, different perspectives of the limitless human imagination and expresses how every other thing ever existed origins from our ability to imagine.
4. Stuttgart City Library, Stuttgart, Germany
© Hans-Martin Doelz
The public library in Stuttgart represents a meeting point and a cultural hub for the city. The contrast of its white perfect cube with its surroundings is present even in the interior; everything is a shade of white, except books and people! Which expresses the library’s respect for such a special connection.
5. St. Florian Monastery Library, Linz-Land District, Austria
St. Florian Abbey Library, Sankt Florian, Austria
“Soaking in the aesthetic and the academic” is how someone described their experience in St. Florian Monastery Library. It is both a cultural treasure and an architectural landmark, brought to us from the Baroque. The more you look and roam around you the more details and secrets you find – it is captivating!
6. Bibliothèque Nationale De France, Paris, France
Bibliothèque Nationale de France – Site Richelieu-Louvois
This is France’s first royal library. The National Library of France in the heart of Paris has always sought to collect and preserve local and global rare volumes for the interest of all those concerned; it has a copy of every book ever published in France. The library also houses a study room; la salle Labrouste, that is exclusive to students and researchers.
7. The Library Of Congress, D.C, USA
Photo by Adam Sorenson
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and the oldest federal cultural institution in the US. It serves all types of people and organizations and particularly serves as the main research assistant to the US Congress. Every working day, the library adds 11,000 items to its collection.
8. The National Library Of China, Beijing, China
National Library / KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten
The National Library of China is the world’s third-largest library. The contrast in the building spaces points to the connection of the past and the future. The solid base building houses the historical written documents; Complete Library of the Four Branches of Literature. While the upper transparent part houses the digital library.
9. New York Public Library, New York, USA
Courtesy of The Nation
The New York Public Library complex is the second largest library in the US and the fourth in the world. It has 92 branches and houses more than 55 million items. All branches represent cultural hubs for their neighborhoods – while the digital library serves researchers and scholars on a global scale.
10. Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, New Haven, USA
Courtesy of Yale University Library
Designed by SOM, The Beinecke Library is Yale University’s library, and it is dedicated to collecting and preserving rare books and manuscripts. This dedication inspires the present generation to connect with the past. The library also houses exhibitions, concerts, and cultural events. The reading room looks at an inspiring sculpture garden.
by D’ZYNA ENI
