Knowledge Halls Turned Tourist Attractions！19 “Most Incredible” Libraries Around the World

By Rita

Everyone wants to get to know a new country in their own way when traveling. For many Taiwanese, this is done through food, historical sites, local markets, or making friends with locals.

“Visit a local library?” If someone asked you that, you might think it’s a strange idea—after all, it doesn’t sound very romantic. But if you’ve seen BuzzFeed’s list of the world’s19 Amazing Libraries, your opinion might change entirely. The article includes firsthand experiences shared by friends on Facebook. Would you consider adding any of these spots to your main itinerary on your next trip?

1. Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Toronto, Canada
“I went to this library this fall, and it was such an exciting experience. Not only is the library beautiful, but you can also see nearly all the collections. We even saw Shakespeare’s first folio...” — Melissa Hudson

▲ Toronto’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (Photo / Wikipedia)

2. Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
“The Stuttgart Library is exactly what a perfectionist would dream of!” — melissan406bf75c0

▲ Stuttgart’s Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart (Photo / Wikipedia)

3. The New York Public Library, New York, USA
“The ceilings are absolutely majestic, and it’s super quiet inside!” — heyitsgracee

▲ New York’s The New York Public Library (Photo / Wikipedia)

4. John Rylands Library, Manchester, UK
“This library is literally a cathedral of books!” — joem45ac45347

▲ Manchester’s John Rylands Library (Photo / Wikipedia)

5. Strahov Library, Prague, Czech Republic
“You can’t really sit down and read here, but it’s truly a paradise for book lovers!” — kateh4897e321c

▲ Prague’s Strahov Library (Photo / Wikipedia)

6. Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscripts Library at Yale, New Haven, Connecticut
“They display a lot of rare books and unique formats, and the best part is how cool it is inside!” — lsheabailey

▲ Yale’s Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscripts Library at New Haven, Connecticut (Photo / Wikipedia)

7. Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico City, Mexico
“I went there last summer, and it was amazing. The photos don’t do justice to how incredible it felt.” — AnaE20

▲ Mexico’s Biblioteca Vasconcelos (Photo / Wikipedia)

8. Salt Lake City Public Library, Salt Lake City, USA
“Superb!” — straytray

▲Salt Lake City Public Library, USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

9. Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK

Recommended by netizen Lia Pulliam

▲Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK (Photo / Bodleian Libraries fan page)

10. Trinity College Long Room, Dublin
“I cried with joy when I walked in!” — Jen Stone

▲Trinity College Long Room, Dublin (Photo / Wikipedia)

11. Mafra National Library, Mafra, Portugal

Recommended by netizen Joana Simão

▲Mafra National Palace Library, Mafra, Portugal (Photo / Wikipedia)

12. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
“It has a Gutenberg Bible, every book is in circulation, there are so many huge tomes, every American needs to visit this place at least once in their lifetime!” — cjsamsky

▲Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

13. Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Recommended by netizen emmas42aab98e8

▲Louis Round Wilson Library at UNC, North Carolina, USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

14. Library at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, Canada
“Small but exquisite” — deezee

▲Library at Osgoode Hall, Toronto, Canada (Photo / Wikipedia)

15. The George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
“Give me a mattress and some food, I’d spend the rest of my life here like Gollum — I’d call this library ‘my precious’.” — Annamaria Apergi

▲The George Peabody Library, Maryland, USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

16. Suzzallo Library at University of Washington, Seattle, USA
“Everyone should come here, it looks just like the dining hall in Harry Potter!” — Meranda Clausen

▲Suzzallo Library at University of Washington, Seattle, USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

17. Boston Public Library, Boston, USA

Recommended by netizens Josh Young, emmas42aab98e8, shelin, matr4a537d5b1

▲Boston Public Library, Boston, USA (Photo / Wikipedia)

18. Pioneer Bookstore, Nanjing, China
“This library is hidden in an underground parking lot in an abandoned space. It has tons of books and documents about history and culture, plus lots of artwork. You can find almost any book you can think of, all in Chinese versions.” — Kalli

▲Librairie Avant-Garde in Nanjing, China (Photo/ site.douban.com)

19. The library in your hometown

▲Beitou Library (Photo/ Wikipedia)

“Everyone should visit the library in their hometown. Yes, there are unique libraries all over the world, and you should get as close to those books as possible. No matter how great foreign libraries may be, the library in your hometown is always the best place to read, study, and find peace. Support your community by supporting your local library.”—Penelope Masters