Kanazawa Umimirai Library

Architects from the Coelacanth K&H Architects studio designed the Kanazawa Umimirai Public Library in the hope of creating the ultimate reading environment. Heated floors, an outpouring of natural light, and other features were specifically included to achieve this goal.

The “punching wall,” which comprises thousands of tiny openings, allows natural lighting into the building, enhancing the overall feel of the space. This Japanese library was opened in 2011, and reflects the appearance of many modern minimalist spaces.

The Abbey Library of Saint Gall

While clean, minimalist lines command our attention, some of the most spectacular libraries are those that have been around for hundreds of years. The Abbey Library of Saint Gall is one of the earliest and most important monastic libraries in the world, as it contains an incredible number of medieval writings. The site was considered one of the most renown centres of Western culture and science during the 9th and 10th centuries. In 1983, the Abbey Library of Saint Gall (along with the Abbey of Saint Gall) was listed as a World Heritage Site.

Library of Congress

In 1800, Congress established the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Fifteen years later, Thomas Jefferson offered up his personal library to replace books that were lost when when the British set the building on fire in 1814. His books, which took nearly 50 years to collect, varied from texts on science, literature, and philosophy, to books written in a variety of foreign languages. Though considered one of the finest in America, Jefferson’s book collection created controversy because it contained a number of books that many found irrelevant to legislation.

Jefferson’s belief that all subjects were worthy and important in terms of American legislative history now directs many of the Library of Congress’ policies. These days, the Library of Congress offers more than 155 million items and the largest rare book collection in North America. The library also houses a copy of the Gutenberg Bible and the world’s smallest book which is 1/25” x 1/25”, or about the size of a period.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Centered in the intellectual capital of the ancient world, the Ancient Library of Alexandria was known for centuries as the epitome of knowledge and learning. Hundreds of thousands of scrolls filled the shelves, and scholars from all over the world flocked there to study. Sadly, a period of neglect, accidental fires, and continued war with the Romans, led to the ultimate destruction of this magnificent library.

In 2002, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina was opened near the site of the original Ancient Library. The new library is still home to many ancient texts, as well as museums, art galleries, and a planetarium.

State Library of Victoria

The State Library of Victoria, located in Melbourne, Australia, is one of the largest exhibiting libraries in the world. Though it originally opened in 1856, major renovations took place between 1990 and 2004. The La Trobe Reading Room is one of the library’s main attractions due to its visually stunning architecture.

The sprawling lawn at the library’s front attracts hundreds of city folk each day, who congregate for lunch or to gaze at one of the many statues sprinkled across the grounds. The library currently contains more than two million books, as well as Ned Kelly’s original armor. Many people in the region consider Kelly to be a folk hero, as he exemplifies the 1800’s Irish-Australian resistance against the ruling class.

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