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The 25 Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the World

By Emily Temple on
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The Los Angeles Central Library in Los Angeles, California [via]

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ArchitectureBeautiful LibrariesDesignLibrariesPublic Libraries
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Clay Henson 5 pts

When I look at the Stuttgart picture I think of Escher's "Relativity".  Many of the people are in the same positions as in the painting. 

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BenHutchison 5 pts

What about the British Museum library?

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Just curious. How did you acquire the photos? Did you take them?

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One of the most beautiful libraries in the world LELLO - Porto, Portugal J. K. Rowling in OPorto, wrote the first 3 paragraphs of Harry Potter. Now wonder if Harry Potter is not born here: http://www.360portugal.com/Distritos.QTVR/Porto.VR/vilas.cidades/Porto/Web_2D/Lelo.jpg

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where are the other 24 ? is it just 1 ?

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The Helsinki University library should be on this list, a really beautiful library.

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Amendment to my earlier post about the Stuttgart library aka "books jail": it is NOT a computer simulation, it IS a real photo! Mea culpa! But nevertheless, the Stuttgart library is a shame when you look at the urban context: It is part and parcel of the white elephant called "Stuttgart21" which is Germany's contribution to the Grandi Opere Inutili/European Unnecessary Works: TAV in Italy, HS2 in the UK, Stuttgart21 in Germany. Here's a summary in English: http://www.kopfbahnhof-21.de/fileadmin/bilder/diverse/nein-zu-s21/Summary_S21_by_George_Morton_01.pdf Public money into private pockets...

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I recognized the exterior of the Vancouver library from the SyFy Channel's revision of "Battlestar Galactica"!

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I would have included the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

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Library of Congress anyone?

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The Seattle Central Library is like a bad movie set, sort of interesting to look at on the outside but doesn't function well as a library on the inside. Tons of wasted space, too many stairs, scary elevators, dumb interior art work, and shelves containing books that are level with the floor so you must get on hands and knees or lay down on the floor to view. It must have looked good on paper, barely functions as a major library, and already needs a makeover.

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Gorgeous! Another favorite: Boston Public Library. Murals by John Singer Sargeant

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This series of the World's most beautiful libraries is fantastic. Please keep it going. These libraries throughout our world are outstanding. Everyone should know that these beautiful structures of knowledge exist and are "Free Public Libraries".

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All stunning, but none suggest snuggle up with a good book.

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It hits me really hard to see the new Stuttgart library included. It's the only library on the list where you don't have a photo but a computer simulation, so you maybe won't understand why locals call it „Bücherknascht“, i.e. „books' jail“. But the point is another one: this library is the vanguard that is meant to prepare ground for one of Europe's biggest real estate projects – starting right now. The idea: destroy one of Germany's best railway stations (listed historical building!), put it below ground and replace it by a teeny-weeny, far less efficient subway station instead. Costs: > 5 bn Eur, completion date ca. 2025. Where rails and platforms are today a new urban quarter is to be „developed“. Believe it or not – the library you see above is already there! In the middle of nowhere. It stands on a strip of land already cleared of rails. Punch line: the city of Stuttgart has bought all the railway area – still used today and to be used until ca. 2025 – from German Railways Inc. years ago. The city paid 465 m Eur back then and waived interests. Wonderful, and a library in the middle of all this mess...

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Id be honourd to donate a canadian native totem pole to be carved and erected in front that magnificent structure.thus allowing our native people of canada to be reconized halfway around the world.please contact me at p.davies@live.ca

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Great story--and beautiful libraries! But most were located in big cities with the money to afford top architects. How about another feature on small town libraries that have used their limited resources beautifully as well? My town's library, the Sewickley (PA) Public Library, would be a good candidate: http://www.axisarchitecturepc.com/C4_a.html

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Salt Lake City Public Library is truly inspiring!

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OMG! The library in Stuttgart is the most unpopular library in the world. I hate this house, it's only white! There is not the right feeling, you know? And I love the library in Bristol <3 Great!

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I am in love of your beautiful libraries series. All libraries are breathtaking....specialty i like Angelica Library, Rome, Italy. it's great....

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My favourite is Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, Boston, Mass.!

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The Whole pictures of Libraries are AMAZING,, & I was sooo glad when i saw Bibliotheca Alexandrina Library (Egypt),,Also i love Ancient Libraries,,i`d like to ask if we can see more pictures of the inside of the Libraries thanks a lot

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Really really glad to see Taiwan's Public Library on the list. In deed, it is a very gorgeous library. Beautiful outside and inside, up on the hill surrounded by beautiful trees, so lively and also quiet. It's the best library in Taiwan. Well, compares to the other libraries in other cities in tw, they all look like a disaster.

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For Los Angeles Pulic, the photos show only the building built in the 20s. Is that a sly commentary on the new wing dating from the 90s? Chicago Public is not at all beautiful, lacking in charm. I'm fascinated by the Old Market Library, the beauty in Villanueva, Colombia and the one in Mexico City.

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The facade of the Vancouver Public Library may be pleasing to some, but inside it is noisy, dirty, and rundown. Inside it is grey, and cold, and lifeless. The only reason it gets on any lists is because of its outside appearance, but in my opinion, it is the inside of a library that really counts.

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Seriously, a list like this without the McKim building of the Copley Square library in Boston? Has the Johnson building really brought it down so far that original murals by Edwin Abbey and John Singer Sargent can't bring it up into the top 25?

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The Rijksmuseum-library is nothing more than a beautiful location. It's books have moved to an ugly building somewhere else in the city. So technically it's not even a library any more. Might I suggest the Artis-library as it's replacement.

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Check out Wellington City Library in New Zealand - really beautiful.

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You forgot the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. A stunning building inside and out. http://www.adonline.id.au/buildings/state-library-of-victoria/ In fact, I'm, surprised there was no Australian library listed at all, as the Mitchell Library in SYdney is also quite beautiful.

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I like the older libraries better.

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fayetteville, arkansas library is spectacular.

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So glad you included Stockholm Publuc Library. It is wonderful and the staff who work there clearly proud of it. I do believe in inspirational buildings and work in one myself at the London School of Economics designed by Norman Foster but libraries are all about the people, those who use the services and those who provide them.

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The library in Peitou Dis. of Taipei Taiwan is real awesome. Not only the beautiful construction, but also the energy saving designed concept. I really enjoyed reading in this library.

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A simple library perhaps - but built in austere times, designed by Harry Faulkner-Brown, who devised 10 commandments for great librarys. I wonder how many new ones follow these principles? http://20thcenturynewcastlearchitecture.wetpaint.com/page/Jesmond+Library

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I'd love to visit each and everyone of these awesome spaces! Cape Town, South Africa has a beautiful central library that no-one has mentioned yet; check it out: http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/NewCentralLibrarywillbeaCentreofExcellence.aspx - a repurposed drill hall.

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The library featured in Wim Wender's original movie of City of Angels was Berlin's State Library built in the seventies. I loved to read and write there.

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I really enjoyed seeing the variety of these big city libraries, everything from modern to classic old world, simply beautiful! It would be great if you could do a presentation of the smaller town libraries around the world. If you do, please check out Camarillo, CA's new library, the inside is like an old pirate's ship with the aged dark, beautiful wood and old time ship architecture. Actually, the Camarillo library is not only educational, but a fun and enjoyable experience for all ages as well.

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