Picture it. You have a monster test tomorrow and there is no time left for procrastination. The next 12 hours of your life will consist of sitting in an all-too quiet, distraction-free library, with nothing but your thoughts and books to keep you company.
Ugh, the worst amiright?
But find yourself in one of these libraries, arguably some of the most stunning from around the globe, and an all-night cram session may not seem so bad.
Library of Parliament – in Ottawa, Canada
Established in 1876, the Library of Parliament survived numerous fires in its history. In 1916, a blaze destroyed most of Parliament’s Centre Block, but the library survived thanks to its iron doors, which isolated it from the fire. The library is depicted, in hologram form, on the current Canadian ten dollar bill.
The Library of Birmingham – in Birmingham, England
Described by architect Francine Houben as the ‘people’s palace’, this public library opened in September 2013 and is considered the largest public library in the United Kingdom. It houses Birmingham’s collections of rare books, photographs and archives. It also provides free access to the National Film Archive. Add to that a gallery space, theatre, amphitheatre and performance spaces – you’ve got quite the cultural destination.
Library of the French National Assembly – in Paris, France
Located in Paris’ Palais Bourbon, the library of the National Assembly holds many treasures, including the draft French Constitution of 1791, annotated by “The Incorruptible” Maximilien de Robespierre, one of the most important figures in the French Revolution.
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch – in Vancouver, Canada
Designed by architect Moshe Safdie, the exterior of Vancouver’s Central Branch resembles Rome’s Colosseum. “Library Square” – which is comprised of Central Branch, Federal Office Tower and retail spaces – takes up an entire city block. The decision to build Library Square was the result of a referendum held in 1990. Following the referendum, the city of Vancouver held a design competition. Safdie’s design was by far the most radical – and most favoured by the public. The library also boasts a rooftop garden designed by landscape architect Cornelia Oberlander.
Philological Library at the Freie Universität Berlin – in Berlin, Germany
Designed by world-renowned architect Norman Foster (aka Lord Foster of Thames Bank), Berlin’s Philological Library was built in the shape of a human brain. Foster is also the architect behind the Hearst Tower in New York City and 30 St. Mary Axe in London, England (aka “The Gherkin”).
UNAM Biblioteca Central – in Mexico City, Mexico
The Central Library of Mexico City’s National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was established in 1950. The building, covered in murals by Mexican artist Juan O’Gorman, is part of a group of buildings on campus that were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Library of Congress – in Washington D.C., USA
The Library of Congress was established in 1800, making it the oldest cultural institution in the United States. It is arguably the largest library in the world, housing 158 million items. Collections were lost and rebuilt on numerous occasions after being lost in fires. While you’re allowed to go in the library as a member of the public and browse the collections, only high-ranking officials can check out books.
New York Public Library – in New York City, USA
Second only to the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library is one of the largest in the United States. The library was established in 1895 and has 88 neighbourhood branches all across New York City. Its historical collection boasts a 1493 letter written by Christopher Columbus while at sea during his first voyage.
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) – in Paris, France
The National Library of France houses 14 million books and printed materials and three million digital documents, with the mission of collecting and preserving France’s heritage. Although the origins of the BNF date back to the 1300s, the newest library building was commissioned by then-President François Mitterrand in 1988. The new building was criticized for its architecture and cost, but it boasts more than one million visitors each year.
Trinity College Library Dublin – in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland’s largest library was established in 1592. The Old Library, which houses the famous Book of Kells plus 200,000 of the library’s oldest books, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
The National Library of Belarus – in Minsk, Belarus
This library is the cultural centre of Belarus. Though it was founded in 1922, a new 22-floor building for the library opened in 2006. The new library’s architects Mihail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko designed the building’s main structure after a rhombicuboctahedron that lights up the sky at night.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina – in Alexandria, Egypt
The New Library of Alexandria was built to capture the spirit of the original ancient library of Alexandria. In addition to space for eight million books, it houses four museums, a planetarium, art galleries, a conference centre and several academic research centres. Some have alleged the library is, among other things, an expensive vanity project for the Egyptian government.
Seattle Central Library – in Seattle, USA
Central Library is the flagship location of the Seattle Public Library system. Opened to the public in 2004, the 11-storey modern glass and steel building houses more than one million books and 400 computers free for the public.
British Library – in London, England
The British Library’s collection is more than 150 million items strong, with three million items added every year. In addition to manuscripts, maps, magazines, drawings and patents, the library also boasts eight million stamps (stamps!). According to library staff, if you were to visit every day and view five items each time, it would take you 80,000 years to see the entire collection. Treasured items in the British Library’s collection includes Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook, the Magna Carta and the world’s earliest dated printed book.
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