Libraries Around the World
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS — WASHINGTON D.C., USA
Both the National library of the U.S. and the country's oldest federal cultural institution
more than 61 million manuscripts, a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, one of only four perfect vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible
one million newspapers from the last three centuries, over five million maps, six million pieces of sheet music, and more than 14 millions photos and prints.
BODLEIAN LIBRARY — OXFORD, UNITED KINGDOM
Established in 1602 as Oxford University's library
Bodleian is one of the oldest libraries in Europe.
Houses more than 11 million items, including many of historical importance: four copies of the Magna Carta, a Gutenberg Bible, and Shakespeare's First Folio (from 1623), just to name a few.
READING ROOM AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM — LONDON, ENGLAND
For much of the Room's history, access was limited to registered researchers, attracting notable visitors including Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, Mahatma Gandhi, Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell, Mark Twain, Lenin, and H.G. Wells during this time.
The majority of the collection was moved to the new British Library in 2000
YALE UNIVERSITY BEINECKE RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY — NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, USA
Holds the distinction of being the largest building in the world that serves the express purpose of preserving rare books and manuscripts
The library's impressive holdings celebrate significant authors like Rudyard Kipling, D.H. Lawrence, Sinclair Lewis, and Joseph Conrad through its special collections
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ST. MARK'S — VENICE, ITALY
National Library of St. Mark's contains one of the most important collections of classical texts in the world
As of 1603, a law was enacted that required one copy of all books printed in Venice to be housed at the National Library.
Today, the collection encompasses more than a million books, over 13,000 manuscripts, 2,883 incunabula, and more than 24,000 16th-century works.
ABBEY LIBRARY OF SAINT GALL — ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND
The Abbey Library of Saint Gall is the oldest library in Switzerland
The library's founder, Saint Othmar, is also credited with establishing an abbey of the same name in 719, known as one of the oldest monastery libraries in the world
In 1983, the United Nations' Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization named the library a World Heritage site, calling it a "a perfect example of a great Carolingian monastery".
AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY — VIENNA, AUSTRIA
The world's foremost Globe collection, rare books dating from the 4th century, a UNESCO Memory of the World Programme item (the Vienna Dioscurides, a 6th-century illuminated manuscript exploring medicine and healing), and a map collection that dates back to the 16th century.
TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY — DUBLIN, IRELAND
The Trinity College Library, fondly called the Long Room, is the largest library in Dublin
Built in 1592, is among Ireland's biggest tourist attractions, home to the historic Book of Kells, a Gospel book created by Celtic monks roughly around 800 AD.
It is also home to six million other printed works, including manuscripts, music, journals, maps, and special collections.
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Founded in 1854, the State Library of Victoria now holds more than 1.5 million books, including special collections highlighting chess, the arts, the diaries of Melbourne's founders, and the folios of Captain James Cook
The centerpiece of the library is the LaTrobe Reading Room, a soaring octagonal space with the capacity to accommodate more than one million books and 500 researchers or readers in one sitting
At the time of its completion in 1913, the LaTrobe Reading Room was the largest dome in the world; today, it houses the library's extensive Australiana collection
CHÂTEAU DE CHANTILLY LIBRARY — CHANTILLY, FRANCE
Hold a prized Gutenberg Bible in its collection, the Château de Chantilly Library is part of a French estate that also includes one of France's most important art galleries, the Musée Condé
The library of the estate contains more than 1,300 manuscripts and 12,500 printed works, including the aforementioned Gutenberg Bible (one of more than 700 incunabula, a term describing early printed books, typically before 1501,) and roughly 200 medieval manuscripts
Sadly the limit was 10 pictures. Would you guys like a part 2?
