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See Inside 30 of the

World's Most
Beautiful Libraries
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Imagno // Getty Images

Telling the stories of the past and

present, the best libraries in the world
hold together communities and societies.
The thousands of books lining the
shelves allow readers to expand and
grow their knowledge. The quaint
meeting rooms provide a safe space for
people to meet to work or discuss their
passions. A one can't overlook how the
buildings themselves celebrate the
artistry of makers through their
innovative architecture and brilliant
technology.

The hallowed room and walls of libraries

give insight into the spirit and history of
a place just as much as the books inside.
While some may express their beauty
outwardly in the forms of modernist
exteriors or palatial appearances, others
invite you inside to marvel at their
expansive collections, carved archways,
and dynamic ceiling frescoes. Upon a
simple visit, it's hard to no to think that
libraries may just be one of the most
beautiful and rewarding places to be.

From an eco-conscious beauty in Taiwan

to a fairytale-like Austrian stunner, these
magniDcent spaces are as remarkable for
their design as for the books Dlling their
shelves. Whether you're an admirer of
Dne architecture or a self-described
bibliophile, these beautiful libraries from
around the world will make your literary
bucket list.

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Brian Horsey / 500px // Getty Images

Established in 1679, the Strahov

Monastery Library is regarded as one of
the best-preserved historical libraries
with its thousands of books dating all the
way back to the 16th century.
Otherworldly frescoes by Siard Nosecký
and Anton Maulbertsch decorate the
ceilings as gilded and carved book
shelves house the library's tomes. The
Philosophers’ Hall features a rarity
cabinet Dlled with different animals,
minerals, and mock fruits.

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Architecture Drm OMA's mission for the

redesign of Seattle's central library was
to create an informational hub for all
forms of media. The 11-story glass and
steel structure houses over one million
books and hundreds of computers along
with a Mixing Chamber where librarians
can interact with patrons and provide
guidance for whatever they may need.
Possibly the most innovative feature of
the library is the Book Spiral, a winding
bookshelf at the center of the building
connected by ramps.

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Jui-Chi Chan // Getty Images

One of the Drst free public libraries in

the world, the State Library of Victoria
has remained dedicated to being a place
for discovery and education since 1854.
Inside the Neoclassical library a number
of books and artifacts detailing the
history of the Victoria region and its
culture. The regal La Trobe Reading
Room alone houses nearly 32,000 books
across its octagonal walls.

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View Pictures // Getty Images

Serving as the cultural hub of Vennesla,

Norway, the wood-and-glass library
houses nearly 80,000 items in its
collection along with a cafe and venues
for concerts, shows, and art exhibitions.
Helen & Hard Architects designed the 27
ribs wrapping around the ceiling and
walls to house the bookshelves and
create personal study rooms.

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robert klinger // Getty Images

Upon stumbling into the Piccolomini

Library, it's hard not to let out an audible
gasp from seeing the glittering frescoes
adorning the walls. The opulent library,
located in the Duomo di Siena, features
works by famous painter Pinturicchio
and his workshop, who were tasked with
creating scenes that celebrate Pope Pius
II. Centuries-old manuscripts surround a
marble sculpture of the Three Graces at
the center of the vault.

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The Rococo splendor apart of the Palace

of Mafra was built in 1771 by royal court
architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa to be
used as a museum. Natural light boods
through the numerous windows lining
the hall, causing the rose, gray, and
white marble boor to sparkle throughout
the day. In 1745, the Pope granted the
royal commission permission to house
“forbidden books,” which remain a part
of the 35,000 leather-bound collection.

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Two marble lions stand guard at the

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building,
watching visitors as they come and go
from the research library on corner of
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. The idea
for the Beaux-Arts landmark Drst came
about in 1895, when the consolidation of
the Astor and Lenox Libraries propelled
the founders of the New York Public
Library to build an enormous institution
to compete with Paris and London.

Designed by Carrère and Hastings, the

historic building contains an estimated
15 million items from medieval
manuscripts and ancient Japanese scrolls
to contemporary novels and comic
books.

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Founded in 1909 by the government of

the Qing dynasty, the National Library of
China has amassed an astronomical
collection of over 37 million items
including the largest array of Chinese
literature in the world. Students,
researchers, and book lovers from across
the country bood the three different
structures of the library. The newest
addition, the North Area, is divide into
two levels: the lower holding the
geometric reading room and reference
library signifying the old, and the upper,
housing the digital library representing
the future and evolving technology.

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Imagno // Getty Images

Early architectural plans that depict a

library attached to the main church of