10 Great Places To Take Library Tours

usatoday.com:

Forget stereotypes about libraries. You're likely to find art exhibits, lounge chairs and free Wi-Fi. Monday marks the start of National Library Week, but visitors don't need an excuse to visit. "It's a place where stuff happens," says Rebecca Miller of Library Journal magazine. She shares 10 favorite locations with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Read the whole story: usatoday.com

Comments

[Baileygk]

05:03 PM on 04/11/2011

I went to the Boston Public Library on a date. The Singer paintings on the third floor are spectacular.

http://www.sargentmurals.bpl.org/site/index.html

[Miss Nancy Astor]

01:41 PM on 04/10/2011

The NYC Library is one of the loveliest as, to me, it epitomizes what a library should be which is elegant and functional. The new Seattle library and the SDU library are monstrosities in my view with more attention paid to architecture styling than function. But then I don't care for modern.

[SilentSolidarity]

03:25 AM on 04/10/2011

All of them are gorgeous compared to that hole they plan to build in San Diego.

[bella citta]

07:51 PM on 04/09/2011

The Seattle Public Library is stunning from the outside and has all the charm of a mausoleum within. Seems that a book isn't the only thing you can't judge by its cover. Works equally well in Seattle for a book repository

[jerryjerry5959]

07:09 PM on 04/09/2011

Does it matter if you like it or not? If the conservative right and TeaBaggers continue to cut arts and education, the doors will be locked.

[Fernando]

04:50 PM on 04/09/2011

Woo-hoo, the article main pic is from my local library in downtown Seattle. Great views from the top floors, lots of natural light (which we need in this city) and different ambiance from floor to floor. The whole "spiral" system make it difficult to navigate for new users though, it's almost as if it is supposed to mean something. Not very practical.

It is a beautiful building though and when you figure out what the design means or is supposed to evoke let us know!. : )

[sensimilla]

04:43 PM on 04/09/2011

glad to see everyone here knows the debacle that is the Seattle Downtown Library. Whereas it was a place of connection, learning and comfort, now it is a sterile, noninviting space created by an architect would could care less about the people that use it.

So sad, for 1/3 the $ they could have built a library that people love, instead of one they consistently deride.

[thebetty]

10:58 PM on 04/09/2011

exactly!

[praxitas]

04:30 PM on 04/09/2011

i admire koolhaas intellect and theoretical writing but i'm somewhat mixed on. his buildings.

[ProudToBeVeryLiberal]

02:57 PM on 04/09/2011

I love modern architecture, but the Seattle Public Library is a monstrosity, inside and out. I can think of much better and more comfortable libraries around the country.

[Fernando]

04:58 PM on 04/09/2011

I can't, this design is very reflective of the city, though the big bare cement wall from the entrance on the 5th avenue side is screaming for a mural.

[rtaylor352]

02:25 PM on 04/09/2011

I definitely had to send this to my mom. She was a librarian for 32 years and whenever we were on vacation walking around a new place, she always wanted to stop and see the local library.

[0311SaltDog usmc]

12:54 PM on 04/09/2011

Yes, go to the Seattle library where you can run into homeless people and various other loosers using up all the computers to download pron... no thanks.

[Fernando]

04:55 PM on 04/09/2011

Yes, god knows ONLY in Seattle do homeless people use libraries (rolling eyes). And of course, the firewalls installed in any public computer, anywhere in the US, would prevent bad "stuff" from being downloaded.

[theredqueen]

12:21 PM on 04/09/2011

The Seattle Public Library building is not a comfortable building at all. I never felt like I wanted to pull up a seat and have a nice browse through some book choices. I no longer visit there.

[wishfulslinkings]

12:20 PM on 04/09/2011

Alexandria was interesting enough (boring), but I wouldn't recommend it.

[0311SaltDog usmc]

12:55 PM on 04/09/2011

damn.. is that your real picture? you are straight up fine!

[wishfulslinkings]

01:08 PM on 04/09/2011

NO! LOL

It's Natalie wood, you're supposed to like her.

I'm rather similiar though.

[Miss Nancy Astor]

01:30 PM on 04/10/2011

Alexandria is incredibly interesting for it's history. I highly recommend it.

[freddsky]

11:35 AM on 04/09/2011

The "new" downtown Seattle Public Library, the Paul Allen Experience Music Project and The Box It [Space Needle] Came In all should be moved to McNeil Island, which could then serve as Gitmo Stateside.

[icandump]

11:25 AM on 04/09/2011

When Seattle's overpriced, artsy-fartsy new library building opened I considered it a waste of taxpayer funds. Shortly afterward, the library system, facing a budgetary shortfall, began closing one day a week to save money. So ... great for the moneyed class, but a bad investment for the people. Again.

[sensimilla]

04:46 PM on 04/09/2011

EXACTLY! However, i must say that our local neighborhood library was upgraded luckily a few years before the cuts. BUT again, it became less usable and more sterile. I want to kick these so called "architects" in the nutz. HARD!

[Miss Nancy Astor]

01:31 PM on 04/10/2011

Sad but true.