Books are man’s best friends-this is an old English adage that rightly describes the friendship that lasts a lifetime. Libraries are the treasure troves of books that have an unfathomable amount of knowledge locked up in them. Some of the greatest libraries in the world are the embodiment of beauty and splendid architecture. These libraries are not just a reading space but have emerged as cultural centers and are the hotspot of activities in the regions they are located in. They have become centers for interactions, discussions, and debates for intellectuals and contain a wide variety of books on different subjects by authors from all around the world. Here’s a list of some of the best libraries in the world.
New York Public Library, New York
The New York Library is one of the most recognizable libraries in the world as it has served as the backdrop of movies such as The Day After Tomorrow and Ghostbusters. It is the third-largest library in North America houses 87 smaller libraries and serves 3.5 million people. The sheer scale of the library inspires awe in a spectator. The Rose Main Reading room is beautifully crafted. The library has a collection of more than 500 million items, which also includes the first Gutenberg Bible that came to America.
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is the second largest library in the US. It was established in 1848 and contains about 22 million items. The McKim Building was built in 1895 and contains many beautiful murals. The most notable among these murals is the one of Edward Abbey which depicts the story of the Holy Grail. The research hall of the McKim building houses more than 1.7 million curios including ancient manuscripts and Shakespearean documents.
Library of Congress, Washington DC
The Library of Congress in Washington DC is the largest library in the world. It is open to the public but only members of Congress and other important government officials are allowed to access the books. The Library of Congress is also considered as the ‘library of last resort’ and ensures that certain items are made available to smaller libraries in the country. The library houses 32 million books, a copy of the Gutenberg Bible, more than 61 million ancient manuscripts, and more than 1 million copies of newspapers from the past three decades.
The Library of Alexandria, Egypt
The Library of Alexandria is counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. It was rebuilt over-expenditure of $220 million and was completed in 2002. It also serves as a community center and has a museum, planetarium, a manuscript restoration center, smaller libraries for children, adults, and the blind. There are about 8 million books in this beautiful library.
George Peabody Library, Maryland
This library is often referred to as the ‘Cathedral of Books’. It has very beautiful interiors with classic black and white flooring, a 61 feet high atrium, and golden columns. It is renowned for housing the early editions of the Don Quixote collection. The George Peabody Library is a part of Johns Hopkins University. It was originally a part of the Peabody Institute till it passed on to Johns Hopkins in 1982.
