Top 10 Most Beautiful University Libraries in the World
Libraries are places where you get the most appropriate atmosphere to study and do some research. So anyone can say that what matters is not the beauty of the building but the materials inside such as current books, journals and such other sources of knowledge. However, the ambience of a reading and research environment can really go a long way in helping knowledge assimilation. So it is not out of place for some libraries to put in extra effort to make their structures look very stunning and comfortable for studies. Much as a greater percentage of information for most people’s studies is now online, you can’t beat the feeling of sanctuary and calm you get from a good library. Not minding whether you’re using a library for research, reading or just to escape the world for a few hours, libraries are an essential part of the university experience. So it doesn’t hurt if your chosen university’s library looks stunning and easy on the eye. Here is a list of university libraries among the most beautiful in the world.
1. The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library, University of Chicago, US
Joe and Rika Mansueto Library
The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago is one of the most stunning in the world. It was designed by Helmut Jahn and opened in 2011 and has a spectacular glass roof, perfect for staring out of when you need to give your eyes a rest. This library has an underground storage space for delicate books and records which is climate controlled and features around 3.5 million volumes. One fascinating thing about this library is that the librarians are robotic cranes, which will locate and bring any book in the library to you in no more than three minutes. This definitely leaves you with a wonderful experience after using the library.
2. Hachioji Library, Tama Art University, Japan
hachioji library tama art university japan
The Tama Art University’s Hachioji Library which is located in Tokyo was designed by the renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito and located in Tokyo, feels like a modern cathedral or palace. The building takes inspiration from European medieval structures and modern materials. It has over 60,000 square feet of floor space set over two levels and huge curved concrete ceilings. It is this clash of old and new that makes for an interesting aesthetic within the building. It is among the most beautiful university libraries in Asia.
3. Old Library, Trinity College Dublin
Old Library, Trinity College Dublin
The Old Library located in Trinity College Dublin has the world-famous Long Room which makes it a quintessential university library. It has a lot of ancient books, marble busts, wood panelling and dimly lit corners. Built between 1712 and 1732, this is truly an ancient library containing thousands of the library’s oldest books. Among the classic collections in the library include a rare copy of the 1916 proclamation of the Irish Republic and an exquisite 15th-century harp. You will definitely find a lot of collectors’ items in this library.
4. Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego, US
Geisel Library, University of California, San Diego, US
The Geisel Library at the University of California, San Diego was designed by the architect William Pereira. This is an eight-storey library sci-fi masterpiece set on top of a base tower and is 110 feet high. Famously, there is no signage or lift stop for a third floor. There is a story told by University of California students that the original design didn’t account for the weight of the books, meaning one floor had to remain empty. Well, the fact remains that the structure and design combined to produce a stunning library for the university.
5. Les Aigues Library, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
Les Aigues Library, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
The unique Les Aigues Library building at Pompeu Fabra University is among the most beautiful in Europe. This building was not designed to house books but rather to supply water as the central reservoir to the nearby Parc de la Ciutadella. The conversion induces a sense of tranquility and silence similar to a monastic space, with the original columns and brickwork on show. Seems the conversion of the building into a library was a nice idea after all.
6. Library and Learning Centre, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Library and Learning Centre, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
The Library and Learning Centre at the University of Economics and Business in Vienna was designed by Zaha Hadid, a major figure in contemporary architecture before her death in 2016. Watching from the outside you will see sharp, futuristic lines, while inside bright white corridors, walls and rooms flow together, showcasing exactly why critics named Hadid the “queen of curves”. The ambience of the library is really great for knowledge assimilation while studying in the library.
7. George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University, US
George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University, US
This library which was established in 1878 is one of the oldest university libraries that still maintains its beauty even in modern times. The George Peabody Library is located on the Mount Vernon campus at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and is easily one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Johns Hopkins University members can use it as their research library for all things 19th century, but the collections are also open to the public, in keeping with the wishes of the famous merchant and philanthropist George Peabody, who financed it.
8. Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, UK
Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, UK
The University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library is in fact a collection of libraries and requires students to recite an oath promising not to mark the books before they are granted membership. It is not surprising that this library is among the most beautiful in the world because the University of Oxford which is one of the oldest in Europe, is known for its architecture. This is why the university is nicknamed “the city of dreaming spires”. The library and buildings have been used as locations for many films, including the Harry Potter series, The Golden Compass and X-Men: First Class.
9. The Joanine Library, University of Coimbra, Portugal
The Joanine Library, University of Coimbra, Portugal
The Joanine library at the University of Coimbra, Portugal was built in the 18th century under the orders of the Portuguese King John V. This is an architectural masterpiece located at the heart of the beautiful University of Coimbra. As well as being a functioning reference library for students, it’s also a national monument due to its historic and cultural significance. One very unique though bizarre thing about this library is that it is one of the only libraries in the world where bats are welcome guests. A colony of common pipistrelle bats make their home behind the bookshelves, coming out at night to eat flies, gnats and other pests and in doing so helping preserve the manuscripts from natural damage. So you see that the bats are actually doing a great job in the library which is probably while they are allowed to share the space with humans.
10. Central University City Campus Library, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
Central University City Campus Library, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
The Central University City Campus Library is one of the most beautiful in South America. The building which towers over the surrounding campus is adorned with the mural A Historical Representation of the Culture, created by the Mexican artist Juan O’Gorman. The mural features mosaics representing the three fundamental historical ages in Mexican culture: the pre-Hispanic era, the Spanish colonial era and the modern age that has been born out of these two periods. All the stones used in the mosaic are naturally coloured and sourced locally in Mexico. In July 2007, the library was recognised as a Unesco world heritage site. This is in fact a very good tourist destination for visitors from across the world.
