The Most Beautiful Libraries In The World (PHOTOS)

Libraries are one sight that we will never tire of seeing. They are peaceful, restorative, and awe-inspiring: The perfect antidote to a day of rushing around, whether at home or abroad.

Below, we've collected photos of the world's most beautiful libraries, whether in Egypt, Austria, or here in the US. Bookworm or not, these lovely libraries are worth a visit!

Did we leave your favorite library off the slideshow? Send us your list additions and photographs!

 

What beautiful libraries did we leave out? Let us know, and send your photos!

Find a picture, click the participate button, add a title and upload your picture

1 of 16

Strahov Monastery Theological Library, Prague, Czech Republic

1 of 17

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

Now Open for Summer: 4 Gorgeous Spots Along the East Coast (PHOTOS)

America's Worst-Dressed People (PHOTOS)

7 Incredible Outdoor Spas (PHOTOS)

Alaska Cruise Adventures Setting Sail This Summer (PHOTOS)

10 Things I Learned By Staying In New York's Sex Hotels (PHOTOS)

Where To Go When You've Summered Everywhere (PHOTOS)

comments(89)

Total comments: 89 | Post a Comment

1 of 17

Library

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

So-so Stunning

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Current Top 5 Slides

loading...

Choose your Top 5 Slides

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

Comments

[Ergon]

02:38 PM on 10/25/2010

You already did "the most beautiful libraries' this year.
May I suggest "the best train trips"?
I did the Japanese bullet train, and,
Delhi to Simla.

[Blackorpheus]

11:23 AM on 10/25/2010

Fancy architecture, agreed. But where's the technology?

[Ian Matthews]

02:29 AM on 10/25/2010

They forgot about the great hall in Manchester central library.

[MikeDu]

05:14 PM on 10/23/2010

If they hadn't included the Boston Public Library in Copley Square Boston I would've lobbied to have it included. The John Singer Sargent frescoes are something to behold.

[HighDesertBob]

02:46 PM on 10/22/2010

Library of Congress in DC?

[peegan]

02:13 AM on 10/22/2010

Books, books ,books. That photo shot inside the Royal Portuguese Reading Room, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil may have given me an...........oh, thats nice.

[MamacitaOfLove]

02:05 AM on 10/22/2010

Libraries are church for me.

[Northwestgirl]

11:25 PM on 10/21/2010

On rainy days what's better than a good book and snacks :):).

[m1jones]

08:25 PM on 10/21/2010

The Bieneke Rare Books Library at Yale is quite spectacular - lit by windows covered in thin sheets of alabaster which filters soft natural light into the space. Almost all old libraries are about creating comfortable niches for serious readers with some natural light. Most of the wonderful spaces have been converted to mere show (The Reading Room in the British Library which was destroyed by Norman Foster's glass roof "improvement."). Most modern libraries are like modern art museums - all show for the architects, no real comfort for the user/reader/museum visitor. Most modern buildings are design like airports - how fast can you get how many people to go through and spend money in the library,museum shop? Modern libraries are not condusive to curling up with a book and a big space to gaze into while you are thinking about what you just read. Better try to set up a comfortable chair and ottoman at home.

[azatrox]

06:38 PM on 10/21/2010

Only one I've been to is the library at Univ. Washington. I literally felt inspired to learn.

[gcfaas]

06:16 PM on 10/21/2010

what about all of these:

http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/tag/amazing-libraries/

[MamacitaOfLove]

02:03 AM on 10/22/2010

Fanned!

I was at a wedding at the Peabody in Balto, MD. Simply stunning.

[01202009]

04:03 PM on 10/21/2010

What about the Seattle Central Library?

http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4GZAZ_enUS369US369&q=seattle+central+library&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=UpzATNHML4G4sAPzr4mODA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CEYQsAQwBA

[desertdweller]

02:07 PM on 10/21/2010

University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal?

http://www.barryshostak.com/photos/063%20-%20Coimbra%20-%20University%20library.JPG

[Chhotethakur]

08:15 AM on 10/21/2010

Trinity College Dublin library is not beautiful enough for this list? Neither is the Bodleian at Oxford? Or Wren at Cambridge; university library at Salamanca; national library of Russia; or the university library in Coimbra? Even the Vatican library is not included. But some how Melbourne and Boston public are?

What some intern at Huffpo spent 3 seconds on google for this? No credibility at all for a list of the "most beautiful libraries."

[Choicelady]

12:24 AM on 10/21/2010

The ones missed are smaller and less well known. Cleveland Public Library for one. The main reading room in the old, pre-fire LA Public Library was a huge loss. The state library in Sacramento, CA. Most libraries that are pre-war are just beautiful. Kindle cannot replace that beauty of books everywhere and gorgeous architecture surrounding them.

[MamacitaOfLove]

02:04 AM on 10/22/2010

So agree.