With the ubiquity of electronic devices and the Internet, it may seem that libraries are on their last legs. “Around the World” talks about unusual book collections in different parts of the world, which are interesting not only for their books. Moreover, many of them opened in the 21st century and clearly prove that it is premature to talk about the imminent disappearance of libraries.
Trust Library (Germany)
In 2005, a library made of beer crates appeared in the German city of Magdeburg. The city residents liked the idea, and with the support of local authorities, in 2009 the library got a full-fledged building designed by an architectural bureau KARO. The façade of an old warehouse was used in the construction of the library.
The project is a larger version of a community bookcase because you don't have to register to use the library. At the same time, the reader can choose any of 20 thousand books and not even return it, but keep it for himself. That is why residents call this place a “library of trust.” Over time, the building became a full-fledged cultural center where all kinds of events take place.
Since the 1990s, the area of Magdeburg where the library now stands has become increasingly abandoned. The project helped revitalize this part of the city and diversify the gloomy urban landscape. And although the building is occasionally attacked by vandals, the library is popular among residents and has become a local landmark.
Brooklyn Art Library (USA)
The library has now moved to New York and is located at 28 Frost Street. It features approximately 40 thousand sketchbooks, and another 20 thousand exist in digital form.
The library's collection includes both works by famous illustrators and works by emerging artists. Anyone can join the project. To do this, you need to order a sketchbook, fill it out and send it to the library. There is also a so-called mobile library: a truck that can accommodate 4.5 thousand sketchbooks from the library’s collection, which travels throughout the USA and Canada and introduces “readers” to the project and the work of illustrators.
Museum-Library of Children's Illustrated Books (Japan)
In 2005, a real paradise for young readers appeared in the Japanese city of Iwaki: in the library, which has approximately 10 thousand children's books from all over the world, 1.5 thousand literary works were arranged on shelves so that colorful covers were visible. Children can take the books they like and read them anywhere in the library.
The creators sought to create a unique space for the younger generation, which, judging by the number of visitors, was successful: in the first six months, 6 thousand people visited the library. True, readers can come here only on Fridays; on other days, classes for preschoolers are held in the building.
The construction of the library was carried out by the famous Japanese self-taught architect Tadao Ando. Only concrete, wood and glass were used in construction. Ando believes that even concrete can be expressive. He tried to fill the library with light and designed a structure that would make it easy for children to dream. According to the architect, we see light thanks to darkness, so the dimly lit corridors of the library contrast with the light-filled halls where books are displayed. By the way, the building offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
Francis Trigge Library (UK)
The Francis Trigge Library, located in Grantham, UK, is worth a visit if only because it was founded in 1598. The meeting arose on the initiative of the pastor of the village of Welburn and still bears his name. Books from the library will remind readers of the forbidden section of the book depository of the fairytale Hogwarts, since they are chained to the shelves.
This storage method, unusual for the modern reader, is explained very simply. In the past, books were extremely expensive, so extra measures had to be taken to ensure that readers did not take them away with them. The problem was solved in different ways. Thus, in the Dublin Marsh Library, visitors were locked in a cage with the works they wanted to read, but in England they limited themselves to chains, and it was not the visitor who was chained, but the books. Such “security measures” were in effect until the 18th century.
Of course, the Francis Trigge library is far from the only one in which you can see books on chains, but it is considered one of the oldest. In addition, from the very beginning, her books could be used not only by representatives of the clergy, but also by local residents. Since the library's founding, many of the chains have worn out, although for the sake of preserving books they were attached to the covers or edges rather than to the spines, so many were eventually replaced with new ones.
Library at Schiphol Airport (Netherlands)
In the summer of 2010, the first library at the airport opened. It is located in Amsterdam and is a synthesis of traditional ideas about reading and the latest technological advances. Any passenger waiting to board a flight can visit the library, which is open 24/7. He will be able to choose from 5.5 thousand books collected from all libraries in the country.
Literary works in 41 languages are presented here, and readers can leave the books they have read and take new ones instead. The library has three touch screens. One features digital exhibitions based on the collections of Dutch cultural institutions; another is a world map where travelers can leave tips about places they've visited; the third screen is due to launch this year. The library also has tablets with access to the largest music storage in the country, which can be used by anyone.
Library of St. Catherine's Monastery (Egypt)
Located on Mount Sinai, the Monastery of St. Catherine is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This 4th-century monastery was never conquered, so it contains amazing books and scrolls, some of which are much older than the monastery itself.
In addition to religious works, the monastery contains a large amount of historical literature. The collection contains works in Syriac, Arabic, Greek, Ethiopian, Armenian, Coptic, as well as in Slavic languages.
The monastery preserved more than 3 thousand manuscripts, 1.5 thousand scrolls, as well as approximately 5 thousand books published shortly after the advent of printing. Unlike other Western libraries, where the original book bindings are usually replaced, here they are preserved. The library continues to present surprises. Thus, during restoration work several years ago, a Hippocrates manuscript describing medical experiments was found here, as well as three more ancient works on healing.
Camel Library (Kenya)
Since 1985, the Kenya National Library Service has been using... camels to deliver books. The animals help transport literature to the northeast of the country, which is one of the most underdeveloped regions. Due to bad roads, it is impossible to get there by any vehicle. In addition, the region's population is largely nomadic, so thanks to camels, readers can be found wherever they are.
Books are in great demand among Kenyans: currently about 3.5 thousand people are registered in the library. It presents literary works in English and Swahili. And although, according to the National Library Service, the collection is largely aimed at young readers, the books are no less interesting for adults.
By the way, in other African, Asian and Latin American countries there are similar mobile libraries that use donkeys, mules, elephants, and bicycles to transport books.
Photo: Massimo Listri / Caters / Legion-Media, Wikimedia Commons, SketchbookProject / Facebook, Kyodo / Legion-Media, NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images, Andia / Contributor / Getty Images
1. Library Resort
Some people, even on vacation, cannot part with books. It is for them that a hotel called The Library Resort, recently opened in Thailand, was created. Its main feature is a decent library, built right next to the pool. You lie on a sun lounger under the palm trees, read a book, and from time to time you get up to pick up a new book or swim in the warm water. Beauty!
2. Bookshelf
When you first see the Kansas Public Library in a photo, you wouldn't immediately be able to tell that it's a building. The facade, known as the Bookshelf, consists of 8-meter spines. They cover one of the walls of the library. There are 22 “books” in total. They have been selected to reflect a wide range of reading backgrounds. Kansas readers were asked to choose the books they wanted to see as front covers.
3. Library-sink
But the National Library of Kazakhstan, currently under construction in the capital of this state - Astana, looks more like a flying saucer or the shell of some sea mollusk. The choice of the building's shape is, of course, not accidental. Indeed, in this option, the sun will be able to illuminate the rooms inside the library as long and brightly as possible.
4. Library in the metro
Many residents of the largest megacities on Earth spend a huge amount of time underground every day, in the subway. And one of the best ways to kill time there is reading. It is for such underground book lovers that there is a library in the New York subway at the 50th street station, where you can find a book to read on the way to work and home.
5. Infinite library
The Stockholm Public Library project, designed by architect Olivier Charles, involves creating an “endless” wall of books. In the central atrium of this library there will be a huge wall with shelves filled with books. Visitors will be able to walk through the galleries installed along this wall and take the books they need or like. And to increase the infinity effect, mirrors will be installed on the sides of this wall.
6. Library in the form of huge boulders
The public library is located in Santo Domingo, Colombia. The architectural design of the master Giancarlo Mazzanti is truly impressive at first sight. At first it seems that these are just three huge boulders. The building is deliberately located on the top of a hill, among vegetation, which gives it a more natural outline.
7. Beer crate library
Beer and books usually have little in common. Unless, of course, this is a book with jokes about beer. But in one of the districts of Magdeburg they created a public street library, built from old beer crates.
8. Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen
This library is the national library of Denmark and is the largest library in Scandinavia. The storage facilities of this library contain a huge number of historically valuable publications: there are all copies of books printed in Denmark since the 17th century. There is even the first book printed in Denmark back in 1482.
9. Book Mountain
It’s not for nothing that a large book is called a “block.” In the Dutch town of Spijkenisse they are planning to build a library in the form of a mountain consisting of just such “blocks”.
10. Figvam
In general, in Holland, unusual libraries seem to be very popular. Let me introduce you to one more of them. It is located in the city of Delft, and no longer looks like a mountain, like the library from Spijkenisse, but like a fig, beloved by the characters of the cartoon “Three from Prostokvashino”.
11. National Library of Belarus
The new building of the National Library of the Republic of Belarus, which opened its doors in June 2006, was named one of the most amazing and ugliest buildings in the world. The unusualness of the building lies in its original shape, which is a complex geometric figure - a rhombicuboctahedron (a three-dimensional figure of 18 squares and 18 triangles). In addition, the library is covered with a special finish - color LEDs, thanks to which the colors and patterns on the building change every second at night.
12. Bishan Public Library
The Bishan Public Library is located in Singapore. The library looks stylish and modern not only from the outside, but also from the inside. There are specially designated places for discussing thoughts about a particular book read. These rooms are decorated with colorful, bright colored glass, which creates a pleasant atmosphere and makes the interior glow with all the colors of the rainbow. The roof is also glass, which increases the flow of light into the building and illuminates it from the inside.
Kansas City Central Library, Missouri, USA
The library building is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. Election by the Board of Trustees (and it was he who participated in the construction of the building) this or that book on the shelfreflects the diversity of literary genres represented in the public book depository.
Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego, USA
The most recognizable building on campus, Built in 1970 by William Pereira, it is named in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, who generously contributed to the library's collection. The main one of 6 book depositories and A symbol of the University of California, Geisel boasts an impressive collection of books on the arts, sciences and humanities.
National Library of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
The pride of Minsk is the latest modern library of enormous size. The building is a rhombicuboctahedron more than 70 meters high. One of the largest in the world, the library includes a whole complex of buildings. His project was developed in the late 80s and in 1989 won an all-Union competition. However, it was possible to bring it to life only after more than 15 years. Construction took place from 2002 to 2005. The lighting of the building is unusual - a giant multi-color screen turns on every day at sunset and works until midnight. The design and patterns on it are constantly changing.
Peckham Library, London, England
This striking building is shaped like an inverted "L" and is supported by thin steel pillars. The building was designed by Alsop and Störmer, who won the prestigious architectural prize Stirling Prize in 2000. Inside the building, in addition to the main hall, there are numerous conference rooms, children's and Afro-Caribbean sections. When developing the project, the creators tried to take a different look at the plan for the future structure and created reading rooms in the basement. An information room and media center were formed on the ground floor.
Seattle Central Library, Washington, USA
Opened in 2004, the library instantly became a popular destination for the city's intellectuals. Built according to the design of Rem Koolhaas and Josiah Prince-Ramus, the institution was visited by more than 2 million people in its first year of existence. The library houses more than 1.45 million books and other materials. The building is equipped with underground parking for 143 cars and a computer room for more than 400 computers. The library has a unique, striking appearance that earned it 108th place on the list of America's 150 Favorite Buildings.
Text: Elizaveta Churilina
Of the many articles about libraries around the world, I chose this one because it contains PLANS for building some of them, and I could not find information that these wonderful plans were realized. Don't know. And I really want to know. Therefore, if you know, if you have seen it, please tell us!
Amazing thing! Despite the Internet in every home and tens of millions of e-books sold around the world every year, there are still people who go to the library!
Moreover, more and more library buildings are being built for these retrogrades, some of which become real masterpieces of architecture!
1. Library Resort
Some people, even on vacation, cannot part with books. It is for them that a hotel called The Library Resort, recently opened in Thailand, was created. Its main feature is a decent library, built right next to the pool. You lie on a sun lounger under the palm trees, read a book, and from time to time you get up to pick up a new book or swim in the warm water. Beauty! 
2. Bookshelf
When you first see the Kansas Public Library in a photo, you wouldn't immediately be able to tell that it's a building. The facade, known as the Bookshelf, consists of 8-meter spines. They cover one of the walls of the library. There are 22 “books” in total. They have been selected to reflect a wide range of reading backgrounds. Kansas readers were asked to choose the books they wanted to see as front covers. 
3. Library-sink
But the National Library of Kazakhstan, currently under construction in the capital of this state - Astana, looks more like a flying saucer or the shell of some sea mollusk. The choice of the building's shape is, of course, not accidental. Indeed, in this option, the sun will be able to illuminate the rooms inside the library as long and brightly as possible. 
4. Library in the metro
Many residents of the largest megacities on Earth spend a huge amount of time underground every day, in the subway. And one of the best ways to kill time there is reading. It is for such underground book lovers that there is a library in the New York subway at the 50th street station, where you can find a book to read on the way to work and home. 
5. Infinite library
The Stockholm Public Library project, designed by architect Olivier Charles, involves creating an “endless” wall of books. In the central atrium of this library there will be a huge wall with shelves filled with books. Visitors will be able to walk through the galleries installed along this wall and take the books they need or like. And to increase the infinity effect, mirrors will be installed on the sides of this wall. 
6. Library in the form of huge boulders
The public library is located in Santo Domingo, Colombia. The architectural design of the master Giancarlo Mazzanti is truly impressive at first sight. At first it seems that these are just three huge boulders. The building is deliberately located on the top of a hill, among vegetation, which gives it a more natural outline. 
7. Beer crate library
Beer and books usually have little in common. Unless, of course, this is a book with jokes about beer. But in one of the districts of Magdeburg they created a public street library, built from old beer crates. 
8. Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen
This library is the national library of Denmark and is the largest library in Scandinavia. The storage facilities of this library contain a huge number of historically valuable publications: there are all copies of books printed in Denmark since the 17th century. There is even the first book printed in Denmark back in 1482. More details about this library here http://bigpicture.ru/?p=184661 
9. Book Mountain
It’s not for nothing that a large book is called a “block.” In the Dutch town of Spijkenisse they are planning to build a library in the form of a mountain consisting of just such “blocks”. 
10. Figvam
In general, in Holland, unusual libraries seem to be very popular. Let me introduce you to one more of them. It is located in the city of Delft, and no longer looks like a mountain, like the library from Spijkenisse, but like a fig, beloved by the characters of the cartoon “Three from Prostokvashino”. 
11. National Library of Belarus
The new building of the National Library of the Republic of Belarus, which opened its doors in June 2006, was named one of the most amazing and ugliest buildings in the world. The unusualness of the building lies in its original shape, which is a complex geometric figure - a rhombicuboctahedron (a three-dimensional figure of 18 squares and 18 triangles). In addition, the library is covered with a special finish - color LEDs, thanks to which the colors and patterns on the building change every second at night. 
12. Bishan Public Library
The Bishan Public Library is located in Singapore. The library looks stylish and modern not only from the outside, but also from the inside. There are specially designated places for discussing thoughts about a particular book read. These rooms are decorated with colorful, bright colored glass, which creates a pleasant atmosphere and makes the interior glow with all the colors of the rainbow. The roof is also glass, which increases the flow of light into the building and illuminates it from the inside. 
13. New National Library of the Czech Republic
The library is due to open in 2011 and will be one of the most modern libraries in the world. The architectural ensemble of this building consists of three objects of a shape that allows minimizing the volume and increasing the view of the trees surrounding the building.
And yet, no matter how much information technology is developed in our time, reading paper books does not lose its popularity. After all, what could be better than the smell of a new book, magazine or newspaper? Nowadays you can buy any book, so we go to the library less and less, but some people still don’t mind sitting in the reading room with a couple of interesting books or magazines. Many students often use the library to study. Today, libraries are being computerized, and the system of their work is expanding and simplifying, which is undoubtedly an advantage for modern society.
Of course, it's the books that make these libraries so special, but many of them are true works of art and landmarks in cities and universities in their own right.
Admire these photographs of the world's most unusual and beautiful libraries.
These are the most beautiful libraries in the world, but there are many more of them, and they all deserve special attention. These temples of knowledge, in addition to books and other printed publications, also boast the most incredible architecture. These centers of knowledge and education, both historical and modern, also convey the history and culture of different eras. In some of these libraries, it is even difficult to concentrate on reading - the walls surrounding you are too beautiful, and your eyes strive to escape from the pages of the book you are reading to admire them.
Vancouver Central Library
Royal Black Diamond Library in Copenhagen
Library of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Free University of Berlin
Victoria State Library Reading Room, Melbourne, Austria
TU Delft Library, South Holland, The Netherlands
Built in 1997, the library was created according to the designs of the Mecanoo architectural bureau. It is located behind the university courtyard. The roof of the library is covered with grass, which serves as a natural insulating material. The structure rises from the ground on one side, so that you can climb onto the building itself. The building is topped with a steel cone, giving it a unique shape.
Stockholm Public Library
The library building in Stockholm was designed by the architect Gunnar Asplund. Construction of the library began in 1924, but was completed in 1928. The public library building is the most famous in Stockholm. Here, for the first time, the principle of open shelves was used, that is, the visitor can take books from the shelves himself, without the help of employees. In 2006, it was decided to expand the library building. This was done by a German architect.
Royal Reading Room, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura, Rio de Janeiro)
The library building was built in 1837. The builders were a group of immigrants from Portugal. Then it was the first institution that was built for the development of Portuguese culture in the country. The building's design was developed by the architect Rafael de Silva. The style of the library has elements of Gothic and Renaissance. The library offers visitors about 350,000 books and manuscripts. In addition to books, the library houses a collection of paintings.
Memorial Library, Britain
Astronomical Library of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands
Rijksmuseum Reading Room, Amsterdam
A special library in the city of Amsterdam, which allows visitors not only to re-read information from books, but also to view engravings from the museum’s collection. The library makes it possible to find the necessary information from the rarest and oldest examples of literature and science of mankind. To view information, the visitor must be over 16 years of age. The library has a staff member who helps you search for information.
Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland
The library was built in the year the college opened (1592) and is the oldest in Ireland. Today, the library contains about 5,000 various books, magazines and manuscripts. Here you can find a huge number of different collections, the most famous of which, the Ussher Collection, was opened back in 1661. Hundreds of tourists visit it every year to see unique examples of science.
Canadian Library of Parliament
The Library of Parliament is the most famous library in Canada. The most popular and oldest part of the library is the back, which has remained untouched throughout the history of the library. Its other buildings were renovated after a fire in 1916. Despite frequent repairs and reconstruction, some decorative elements still remain original. The buildings were designed by architects Thomas Fuller and Hileon Jones.
Strahov Monastery Library, Prague
The Strahov Monastery is not only a place of pilgrimage, but also the territory where one of the most famous libraries in the world is located. The library at the monastery has a collection of books, which is visited by hundreds of tourists every year (more than 18 thousand spiritual books and 42 thousand scientific and philosophical volumes). The books are housed in two halls: spiritual and philosophical. The spiritual hall was built in 1679, and the philosophical hall almost a century later (in 1782).
Reading room of the University of Washington Library (Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington)
This library is the main library of the University of Washington and the most recognizable building in the United States. The library was named after the university's president, who retired in 1926. The first floor of the building was built in the same year, although construction was completed only in 1933. The library contains about 6 million different books. The library also boasts a huge collection of children's literature.
Admont Abbey Library, Austria
The library at Admont Abbey was built in 1776. The architect who designed the building was Joseph Huyer. The library, which is 70 meters long and 14 meters wide, is the largest library at the monastery. The library's collection includes about 70,000 volumes. The interior of the library is decorated with frescoes by the famous artist Bartolomeo Altomonte and sculptures by Joseph Stammel. In addition to books, there are also 1,400 manuscripts.
Iowa State Capitol Law Library
The Iowa Library building was constructed between 1871 and 1886. The library offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. In addition, on the territory of the library you can see a variety of monuments and memorials. The building has a rectangular shape, high windows and ceilings. The style of its construction is traditional for the 19th century. The interior matches the beauty of the building's exterior design. The building is decorated with the famous quote from Abraham Lincoln.
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto
The Toronto Library is the only library in the world that houses the rarest books and manuscripts. In addition, the library building also serves as a repository for the archives of the University of Toronto. The library's manuscripts include Shakespeare's original manuscripts as well as Darwin's trial notes. The most important collection is the Robert S. Kenney Collection, which includes documents on labor and radical movements in the country.
George Peabody Library, Baltimore
The George Peabody Library, formerly known as the Peabody Institute Library, is located on one of the university's campuses. The library was created by George Peabody to preserve all the necessary documents and materials. It was for this purpose that Peabody himself financed its construction. The Institute itself was created to become the cultural center of Baltimore. The institute was opened in 1866, and the library in 1878.
Reading Room at the British Museum
The British Museum Reading Room is located in the Great Court building, which was formerly part of the British Library. The library itself moved to a new location in 1997, but the reading room remained in its original form. When the reading room was part of the library, only registered users had access here, but today any researchers can use its information. Since 2006, the British Museum has offered visitors a variety of temporary exhibitions in the hall. Many films were filmed in the museum building itself and in the hall.
Abbey Library of St. Gallen, Switzerland
The library of the Abbey of St. Gallen was opened by the founder of the abbey. The library's collection is one of the oldest in Europe. In addition, this is the very first monastic collection in the world. The library contains about 2000 manuscripts, which are both printed and early printed books. Most books are available to all visitors, but many copies can only be read in the reading room. The reading room itself is created in the Rococo style.
Handlingenkamer, Netherlands
A library in the Netherlands includes manuscripts of all pre-1970 transcripts that were recorded verbatim during parliamentary sessions and debates. Since the library building was built in the 19th century, when there was no electricity yet, the roof of the building was completely glass. These precautions were necessary to preserve more than 100 thousand volumes of transcripts. Even though the library has 4 floors, light comes from the roof everywhere.
Library of San Lorenzo, Spain