May 13, 2022
10 Best University Libraries in the World for Good Reads
A Although the internet is fast becoming a knowledge hub for students across the globe, the top universities libraries have something special about them. From beautifully designed interiors to the history, and large collections of rare and precious books, university libraries are where students intrigue their minds in a multitude of subjects.
While all universities have libraries with vast book collections and gorgeous interiors, there are some universities that stand out. These best university libraries in the world don’t just aid the learning process, they’re also serene places to calmly read up on any kind of information a student need. Read on to know about the best university libraries in the world.
#1: The George Peabody Library, John Hopkins University
An aesthetically beautiful library, the George Peabody Library at the Baltimore Campus of the John Hopkins University is well known for its tall stack room with five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies. The library stocks many books, most of which are from the 19th century. History, topography, religion, and British art are some of the popular genres on display at this magnificent library.
#2: Duke Humfrey’s Library, Oxford University
The reading room inside the famous Oxford’s Bodleian Library has history written all over it. The old oak shelves are stacked with books that have been read by famous scholars and it has been tagged as one of the oldest libraries in Europe, dating back to the 1400s. The Gutenberg Bible, a rare manuscript of the Holy Bible, and a Shakespeare First Folio are three classic reads within the shelves of the Duke Humfrey’s Library.
#3: Trinity College Library, Dublin
The Trinity College Library is the largest library in Ireland and it is famous for housing an Irish national treasure, the Book of Kells. Inside the beautiful oakwood shelves lie around 6 million manuscripts, collected over a period of hundreds of years. Its striking feature is the long hallways with arched ceilings.
#4: Saint Catherine's Monastery Library, Egypt
The library at the Saint Catherine's Monastery is the oldest continuously running library in the world. Built somewhere in 381 AD, the library has a collection of old manuscripts that include Christian monastic collections. The library houses books in Slavonic, Polish, Hebrew, Ethiopian, Armenian, Latin, and Persian.
#5: Tama Art University Library
The iconic glass and concrete structure of the Tama Art University Library is unlike any other university in the world. A modern marvel, the library is spread over two levels and it has a large collection of reading material including around 77,000 Japanese books and more than 47,000 foreign books.
#6: Balme Library at the University of Ghana
Spread over six rooms, the Balme Library offers students a blend of rare and commonly used manuscripts, film, and audio tapes for reference. The collections include books that are part of the World Bank collection and the United Nations Regional Depository. The highlight of the library is the students reading room that is open 24 hours a day.
#7: University of Salamanca Library
The University of Salamanca Library is a history buff’s paradise. The library hosts more than 160,000 volumes of manuscripts and books and the interiors are rooted in history. The “EL Cielo de Salamanca” ceiling painting was once part of the library; it has now been shifted to a museum.
#8: John Rylands Library, Manchester
An art meet literature kind of place, the John Rylands Library, Manchester is a beautiful library. It hosts classics such as the Caxton Canterbury Tales, and thousands of old printed works. Dressed like a church, reading or researching matter inside this library is a magical experience.
#9: Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
As the name suggests, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library is famous for its large collection of rare books. Situated inside the Yale University campus, the library is not only accessible to students, but to scholars and researchers as well. The highlight of the library is a six-story glass-enclosed tower of book stacks with around 80,000 volumes of books.
#10: Sterling Memorial Library, Yale University
The Sterling Memorial Library at Yale is the university’s largest and the most iconic building. The library has more than 2.5 million volumes spread across 14 floors. The library also has the Gilmore Music Library, Manuscripts and Archives, the Franke Family Digital Humanities Lab, the Yale Film Archive, the Poorvu Centre for Teaching and Learning, and last but not the least, the Hanke Exhibition Gallery.
Posted in Reviews and tagged Reviews, Libraries, International
Bookmark the Permalink
