What book lover doesn't cherish warm memories of browsing stacks at her college, or attending story time in his hometown? The knowledge housed in libraries can be a comfort, but the delights to be had when visiting them are many. Getting lost in their literary treasures is uniquely satisfying, but they are also places that radiate aesthetic beauty, often showcasing bold architectural experiments.
Last month, we collected photos of some of the world's most stunning libraries, as captured by photographer Franck Bohbot. The list included the Bibliothèque Nationale de France with its dramatic lighting, and the Biblioteca Vallicelliana with its ornate ceilings. Commenters responded with impassioned cases for the beauty of their local libraries, so we asked readers to submit photos of their favorites. We issued appeals for submissions in multiple languages and received pictures from libraries all over the world. Below are 16 more photos of breathtaking libraries, from Amsterdam to Zurich:
Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington - Seattle, Washington, USA
Library of Parliament - Ottawa, Canada
Seattle Public Library - Washington, USA
Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart - Stuttgart, Germany
Birmingham Central Library - Birmingham, England
New York Public Library - New York City, USA
Trinity College Library - Dublin, Ireland
Strahov Monastery Library - Prague, Czech Republic
The University of Michigan Law Library - Michigan, USA
RWI Bibliothek - Zurich, Switzerland
Rijksmuseum Research Library - Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The Boston Public Library - Massachusetts, USA
The New York Public Library - New York City, USA
John Rylands Library - Manchester, England
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library - Ohio, USA
Library of Parliament - Ottawa, Canada
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