Libraries Worth Visiting
Mar 19, 2025
Libraries are cathedrals of knowledge—spaces for deep thinking, quiet study, and architectural beauty. These libraries, spanning the world, are places where design, history, and literature converge.
01. The British Library
One of the largest libraries in the world—home to the Magna Carta, Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, and 170+ million items.
02. The Bodleian Library
An ancient library with roots dating back to 1602, used in countless films including Harry Potter.
03. The John Rylands Library
A neo-Gothic masterpiece, housing some of the rarest manuscripts in existence.
04. Stockholm Public Library
Designed by Gunnar Asplund, its circular main hall is one of the most iconic library interiors in the world.
05. National Library of Sweden
The nation's literary archive, preserving Swedish books, manuscripts, and historical documents.
06. El Ateneo Grand Splendid
A former grand theater turned into one of the most beautiful bookstores and reading spaces in the world.
07. New York Public Library
The lion-guarded Beaux-Arts landmark, home to original literary treasures and an iconic reading room.
08. International Library of Children's Literature
A hidden gem in Ueno Park, beautifully designed by Tadao Ando.
09. Musashino Art University Library
A striking, wooden-structured library designed by architect Sou Fujimoto, embodying minimalist beauty.
10. Trinity College Library
The breathtaking Long Room, with its wooden arches and rows of ancient books, is straight out of a dream.
11. Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève
A stunning 19th-century library with cast-iron arches and high ceilings.