Book lovers dont need a lot to keep them happy an enjoyable book to curl up with, a pretty bookshelf, maybe a hot cup of cocoa, and, most importantly, a quiet place where they can be left to their own devices so that they can get back to their favourite activity. And theres probably no better place to enjoy your favourite novels than being surrounded by thousands of other books. Libraries make the perfect destination to head to if you want some peace and quiet, but want to be surrounded by people who also love reading (and will not talk to you introverts unite). If youre on holiday and are craving some alone time with your paperback, or want to discover a new, scintillating read, heading to the library is the best idea you can have. To that effect, heres a list featuring some of the prettiest libraries around the world that every bookworm must visit.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
Built to commemorate the Ancient Library of Alexandria, one of the largest libraries of its time, which was burned down in 48 BCE, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina contains books in three languages English, Arabic and French donated from all around the world. The librarys shelves have been built to hold about eight million books The building has a conference centre, four museums (Antiques, Manuscript, History of Science and the Sadat Museum), art galleries, a planetarium, and also a manuscript restoration laboratory.
Stuttgart City Library, Germany
Located in the German city of Stuttgart, this nine-storey architectural wonder was built in 2011. This modern vision in white is the perfect place for bookworms, for it has something called the Library for Insomniacs where a small selection of books is available round the clock for you to scrounge through. They also have a Grophotheque section where you can borrow art
New York Public Library, USA
The second largest public library in the United States should definitely be on your itinerary if youre ever visiting the city that never sleeps. Though it has several branches (92 in total) such as in the Bronx and Staten Island the Rose Reading Room pictured above can be found at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan. It reminds me of the Great Hall in Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series, minus the floating candles of course. If you plan to stay in the city for a longer period, you can even get a library card made. They also have an interesting concept where you can commemorate a special moment in your life or honour a loved one by dedicating a chair or table to them.
Austrian National Library, Austria
The largest library in Austria, Viennas Austrian National Library houses a whopping 7.4 million items in its various collections. The State Hall inside the library was built in the 18th century and is undoubtedly the most spectacular section of the complex, with magnificent frescoes and sculptures. The library also has a Globe Museum, which houses around 380 globes, some of them dating back to the 16th century This place should be on the bucket list for not just book worms, but history buffs as well There is a 45-min guided tour every Thursday and Sunday, where you can learn more about the library, its history and the rich collection it holds.
Taipei Public Library, Taiwan
The Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library earned a spot on the list because of one impressive feature it is an eco-friendly building. It has been designed by architects to curb water usage and be energy efficient. The roof of the wooden building has solar cells to generate electricity and also has the capacity for rainwater harvesting. The architects ensured that the wood used to construct the building did not come from a rainforest, and instead was sourced from managed forests that produce timber. The library also boasts of large glass windows to ensure that electricity isnt used as much to light up the interiors. Not only is the library great for book lovers, its a also a lovely place to learn more about how we can co-exist with Mother Nature and take steps to reduce our carbon footprint from this pollution-ridden world.
El Escorial Library, Spain
The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which is the historical residence of the King of Spain, is also home to two three libraries, out of which the royal library is open to the public and is absolutely breath-taking. The library currently holds more than 40,000 volumes. Look up and youll see frescoes on the ceiling depicting the seven liberal arts Rhetoric, Dialectic, Music, Grammar, Arithmetic, Geometry and Astronomy.
Trinity College Library, Ireland
Inside the Trinity College in Dublin is the largest library of Ireland. The library began functioning when the Trinity College was founded in 1592. Its most famous possession is the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript (no, it does not glow it is decorated with illustrations) of the four Gospels believed to have been created in 800 CE. It is also a copyright library where authors are required to submit their publications for copyright protection.
Strahov Library, Czech Republic
Located in the city of Prague, the Strahov Monastery was founded in 1143, and it houses the largest monastic library in Czech Republic. It has two gorgeous halls, the Baroque Theological and Philosophical halls, that date back to the 17th and 18th centuries respectively. The number of people allowed inside the halls is limited and remember, no photography is allowed. You can get more information about the library here.
Have you visited any of these libraries during your travels Tell us about your experience