A Look at Magnificent Libraries
Going back to their earliest days–2600 B.C.E.–libraries have been many things to many people. For some, they are institutions of learning and a place to acquire knowledge. For others, they are sanctuaries, safe havens, community gathering spaces or architectural marvels.
Even today, in an age where the printed word is challenged by digital content, libraries have an impact on our culture. Here are a few of standouts around the world:
Historical
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Credit: McGraw-Hill Education; libraries, both new and old, have enriched life for the people given access to them.
Trinity College Library (Dublin, Ireland) The #2 tourist attraction in Ireland is also the country’s largest library. It is also home to the famous Book of Kells, an “illuminated” manuscript of the New Testament gospels created by Celtic monks in 800 A.D.
- The Library of El Escorial (Madrid, Spain) Part of the historical royal palace of the king of Spain, this library is known for its beautiful vaulted ceilings painted with frescoes. These seven frescoes represent each of the liberal arts (rhetoric, dialectic, music, grammar, arithmetic, geometry and astronomy.)
- Biblioteque Nationale de France (Paris, France) Built in 1868 and greatly expanded with new buildings in 1988, this was once the largest book repository in the world.
Modern
While historic libraries are often ornate and house important ancient documents, there are a number of interesting structures being built all the time. Many are designed with eco-friendly elements in mind.
- Delft University of Technology Library (Delft, Netherlands) Built in 1997, this space is partially located under ground, with a grass-covered roof and large dome, which provides natural insulation and light.
- Villanueva Public Library (Bogota, Columbia) Four young architects (under age 27) won a national contest to design this public library. It was built out of local materials (stones from nearby rivers and wood from neighboring forests). It also features natural ventilation and shade to cool the structure.
- Beitou Library (Beitou, Taiwan) As the country’s first certified “green” building, the library’s slanted roof collects moisture from humidity and rain and recycles it for restrooms and gardens.
United States
- Library of Congress Completed in 1897, this library is the oldest cultural institution in the United States. It is also the second largest library in the world, both in shelf space and number of books. In an effort to document all forms of social communication, Twitter donated its digital archive to the Library in 2010.
- Boston Public Library This was the first “municipal” library (run by a governing body) in the United States. Opened in 1848, it houses first-edition folios from Shakespeare and original scores by Mozart.
Fictional
- Jedi Temple library (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones) The knowledge in this institution is organized in traditional book-form and storage devices such as “holobooks” and “datasticks.” The inspiration for the look of this fictional place is said to be the Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland (see above in the Historical section).
- Hogwarts Library (the Harry Potter book series) Overseen by the strict Irma Pince, this library contains the following sections: Legal, Reference, Dragon, Invisibility and Restricted. Many books contain spells to keep students from stealing or vandalizing them.
- The Library (the Doctor Who TV show) This futuristic library is the size of a planet and contains every book ever written. Guests find what they need by interacting with “courtesy nodes” made up of faces made of donated flesh.