There is truly nothing more timeless than a library overflowing with literature from the past and present. It’s decades of research, musings, and creative expression assembled in stacks and rows. The reader and the dreamer in me naturally crave these spaces, but of course, the part of me that desires order and structure finds solace in libraries as well.
My love of libraries began with visits to the local library in my hometown of McLean, Virginia, where I began with the children’s section and worked my way to the irresistible historical fiction chapter books on the YA Fantasy shelf. In college, I was blessed to approach literature from an academic angle in each of my classes, and the flourishing intellectual and social community provided by my college library drew me to a job as an Information and Borrowing Assistant. With half of my shifts spent connecting with patrons at the front desk and the other half of my shifts spent sorting, shelving, and locating books, my connection to libraries grew stronger than ever.
If I had endless money (haha) and infinite time (an even LOUDER haha), I would plan an extensive trip around the world to visit as many libraries as I possibly could. Here are a few I particularly want to visit:
University of Warsaw Library (Warsaw, Poland)
Do you like your library excursions with astounding architecture as a backdrop? I sure do, and I’m looking no further than the Warsaw University Library. The exterior, designed by architect Marek Budzyński, is truly a site to behold. The aqua-and-pink combination is a risky one, but it turned out to be a striking choice for capturing the attention of passerby and serving as a focal point for intellectual enjoyment. Two of the library’s additional amenities include a Japanese tea room on the 2nd floor and a rooftop garden, both of which lend themselves well to studies and strolls.
Wren Library (Cambridge, United Kingdom)
The Bodlean Library at Oxford will always have my heart, but the checkerboard floors and charming wooden bookshelves of the Wren Library at the University of Cambridge also hold great appeal. However uncomfortable the desks may be, I would absolutely curl up at one of them and spend an afternoon absorbed in my studies. Another aspect of the Wren Library’s appeal is its massive collection of medieval and colonial manuscripts, including the notebook of Isaac Newton!
Oodi Library (Helsinki, Finland)
This phenomenal structure presents visitors with a space that is charming in its quirkiness, yet awe-inspiring in its grandeur. Beyond its ideal location near Finland’s most significant civic institutions in the capital, Helsinki, the library houses a third floor designed specifically for quiet reading and reflection. The interior itself is incredibly clean, bright, and open, so those who are inclined to pace when locked in a moment of deep concentration will feel right at home. I could come here on a winter night in Helsinki (which starts around a quarter past 3 in the afternoon) and relax for hours, alternating between glimpses of my book and the dark city skyline outside.
Library of Parliament (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
I had to include this library because….well…just LOOK at it! There is perhaps no better tribute to a country’s past (political or otherwise) than a hallowed building with sweeping ceilings, gothic arches, and proud statues watching over shelves of precious books. The Library of Parliament was designed by two architects who sought to imitate the grandeur of the British Museum Reading Room, and I would certainly say that they’ve matched it. I would love to enjoy a book in a space where literature and history feel revered, not just displayed.
There are many more libraries on my list, of course, but the ones above are just a few I’ve been aspiring to visit at some point. I will always owe a tribute to the libraries that have furthered my intellectual curiosity and sense of belonging. Below is my beloved Brandeis University Library. While it’s small, it has played an integral part in my young adult life.
