In this world of internet and hi tech gadgets, library seems to be a thing of the past. Often we hear that book reading is getting extinct today. Many professors and intellectuals have shown their concern over this issue. This is because now students don’t do gardening or read books in their free time. Rather they spend their free hours sitting in front of their laptops using one social networking site or another. E- books are trending nowadays. People like to read on smartphones after downloading it from internet. So, in this scenario of ease and touch screen technology, who would want to travel towards a library in search of books.
However, a look on the below mentioned stunning libraries is enough to convince us that, even still today, there are enough places in this world, that hold books but are as attractive as any restaurant or a hill station. The charm of reading while sitting in a cozy and grand area in a literary ambiance cannot be compared with a small laptop on a bed in our dull rooms. Here is a list of top 10 most interesting libraries in the world. These amazing and beautiful libraries have the largest collection of rare books.
10. Reading room of the state library of Victoria
The building of this beautiful library is in octagonal shape with 34.75m in diameter and height. There are almost a million books under the largest dome in the world. Its oculus is 5m wide. Australian band ‘faker’ shot their music video for ‘’Hurricane’’ in this reading room in 2005.
9. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
Named in the honor of Thomas Fisher, it’s a largest collection of rare books and manuscripts in Canada. It contains almost 25,000 items collected by Robert S. Kenny. The university students allowed to sit and read there. Rare book exhibitions are held biannually. It is among the oldest libraries in Canada.
8. Halmstad City Library
A good place for those book worms who love nature as well. This public library is located near the beach of the river Nissan and its architecture has been made in accordance with the nearby trees. There are almost 260,000 media in 50 different languages including books, magazines, CDs, films e.tc under the same roof. It has a roof of Sedum , and almost 552 no. of book shelves.
7. The National Library of Belarus
It was opened in Minsk, on September 15, 1922, in a park next to a river bank. The building draws one’s attention because of its rhombicuboctahedron shape, 22 floors and a grand conference room. This interesting library has got almost 8 million with third largest collection of Russian books. Moreover, it’s a quite modern place with almost 2 million electronic data base resources.
6. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
It’s an aesthetically fascinating gift from the Beinecke Family to the world. Located at 121 wall street in Yale Campus. In the building, the protection against direct sunlight is a great relief for those book lovers who want to enjoy sunlight while reading, without getting tan. It contains great rare treasures like ‘the d’Aulaire Collection, Vanderbilt Collection, Greek and Latin literature, Sixteenth century printed books, The Papyrus Collection, The Mellon Collection of Alchemy and Occult and so on.
5. Strahov Theological Hall
This beautiful library has almost 18,000 books on theology. For providing ease in finding books, wooden carved cartouches with pictures and inscriptions show the type of literature at every corner. A compilation wheel is used for compiling texts and a special mechanism in it prevents the books from falling down. Spiral staircases have been made for reaching near the highest lines of books. There isn’t only theology rather one can find enough material on medicine, mathematics, judiciary, philosophy and much more.
4. Admont Library
A 70 meters long, 14 meters wide and 13 meters high building that was constructed in 1776 is the largest monastery library in the world. With 14,00 manuscripts among which many are from middle ages, 900 incunabula and many sculptures made by Josef Stammel (1695-1765) it has been declared as the ‘8th wonder of the world’. Its grandeur, magnificence and the classical taste of old times make one expect the unexpected here.
3. Black Diamond; The Royal Library, Denmark
Black Diamond is an extension of The Royal Library of Denmark, built at the waterfront of Copenhagen. Its specialty lies in the fact that the black marble plates and the outside glass reflect the water of the harbor, giving a heavenly touch to the whole scene. The size of this public library is almost 21500 meter square, having seven stories, many reading rooms, concert hall, bookshop, exhibition galleries, cafe and restaurant. It’s a great place for anthropologists as many cultural activities take place here.
2. Seattle Public Library
This library holds almost 930,000 books. Solar panels, green roof providing insulation, different sections for teens and kids, a red hall and its modern and unique design enable it to be a part of the list of America’s 150 favorite structures.It is the most amazing library in United States because of its beautiful structure.
1. Salt Lake City Public Library
A library winning 2006 library of the year award is surely worth visiting. Located at a convenient place in front of a train station, having spectacular view and marvelous architecture; this library is truly a gem for those trying to satiate their aesthetic thirst. It boasts of having the largest graphic novel collection, largest zine collection having 6,000 zines, 15 subscriptions, and much more. The natural lights, spiral staircase, kid’s area and hidden reading nooks add their own flavor to its beauty and grace.
