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Coolest Public Library (US and Abroad)

Recently I've seen two articles about the coolest and most beautiful public libraries. So now I have post-its with these lists on my computer. I hope to someday see them all.

Coolest Public Libraries in the United States (originally from an MSN article):

  1. Seattle Central
  2. Boston Copley
  3. Cuyahoga County (South Euclid, Ohio)
  4. Los Angeles/Richard Riordan
  5. New York City--I went to this one a couple years ago
  6. Thomas Craine (Quincy, Mass.)
  7. Minneapolis Central
  8. Salt Lake City
  9. Harold Washington (Chicago, IL)
(I would add the library at Mt. Holoyoke College)

10 Most Beautiful Libraries in the World:
  1. British Museum Reading Room--I'll go to it this summer when I get to spend the night in the British Museum!
  2. Abbey Library St. Gall (St. Gallen, Switzerland)
  3. Seattle Public Library
  4. Yale-Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
  5. Stockholm Public Library
  6. Jose Vasconcelos (Mexico City)
  7. Library of Congress (Washington, DC)--I went to this one last summer)
  8. Trinity College (Dublin)
  9. Strahov Monestary (Prague)
  10. Rijkmuseum (Amsterdam)
Have you been to any of these? What's your favorite library?

5 comments

Rob said...

Aloha Helen,

My partner's brother was Librarian at Trinity College in Dublin for many years. I've never been but would like to go someday. This summer I'll be in Seattle and will check out their library.

Aloha from Rob

Suzanne Yester said...

It's truly amazing to see photos of these libraries! Thanks for sharing the list! I did miss out on the Library of Congress due to it's closing for renovations when I was in DC! :(

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

What an interesting post. Unfortunately I have not been to any of the ones you mentioned sadly.

Anonymous said...

You get to spend the night in the British Museum?!? That's sounds amazing.

Helen's Book Blog said...

Rob, I'd love to go to Trinity College. Actually, I haven't been to Ireland, but it's on my list.

Suzanne, Bummer that you couldn't go to the LOC in DC. It is beautiful and they have interesting displays

Diane, now you can add more points of interest when you hit some of these cities on vacation

Softdrink, There is a kids' program about mummies, then we spend the night in the museum. I am totally looking forward to it.