25-most-beautiful-college-libraries-in-the-world

College Search & Selection
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<p>Here is yet another 'must see' list for those who care about such things: </p>

<p>Flavorwire</a> The 25 Most Beautiful College Libraries in the World</p>

<p>Additions? Deletions?</p>

<p>I'd add Dartmouth's Baker Library and delete the Free University of Berlin's Philological Library -- looks like a dirigble!</p>

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<p>I’d remove some of the American knock-offs and add more of the Oxbridge originals, if we must stick with the it-just-looks-really-old theme.</p>

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<p>My favorite is U. of Pennsylvania’s old late 1800s Victorian library. It is now the Fisher library for the School of Design. that is number 23 on the link. It was by architect Frank Furness. Lehigh University also has a grand old library that feels like a cathedral.</p>

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<p>True, there is something about the original gothic structures of Oxford and Cambridge that are redolent of antiquity. To be immersed in that while studying is an unmatched experience. Yet, even the “American knock-offs”, while lacking the patina of age, more than suggest a similar aura. I say good for the Americans that they recognized the appeal of such architecture.</p>

<p>By the way, even in England there are numerous “gothic” buildings that were actually built in the nineteenth century.-- the House of Parliament, for example.</p>

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<p>I would add Princeton’s Firestone Library and Duke’s Perkins Library.</p>

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<p>They are all so breathtaking. My son is going to Cornell next year. I can’t wait to walk through the library. It looked gorgeous.</p>

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<p>Some schools have built new libraries and use the old library for an administration building and thus aren’t on the list. That is the case at Fordham.</p>

<p>In many cases, even these buildings on the list aren’t even the main library anymore. </p>

<p>As a matter of record, I personally believe the New York Public Library in Manhattan mid town is one of the most beautiful (and most treasured) libraries in the world.</p>

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<p>Paul Barret Jr. Library at Rhodes:
<a href=“http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/A/C/-/-/012_Rhodes.jpg[/url]”>http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/A/C/-/-/012_Rhodes.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/9/C/-/-/011_Rhodes.jpg[/url]”>http://0.tqn.com/d/collegeapps/1/0/9/C/-/-/011_Rhodes.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/img/college-photo_2562..jpg[/url]”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/img/college-photo_2562..jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/img/college-photo_2585..jpg[/url]”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/img/college-photo_2585..jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.rhodes.edu/barret/Newsletter_2010_5_cropped.jpg[/url]”>http://www.rhodes.edu/barret/Newsletter_2010_5_cropped.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Further, these are all (very sadly) dinosaurs as we are becoming increasingly digital and students study on computers using digital data bases, not sitting in libraries reading dusty tomes of yesteryear or doing research in the stacks. Its very sad in my opinion. Such that these buildings are merely museums to the past. </p>

<p>Its very true in law libraries as well. Many schools are shrinking their stacks and use them merely for window dressing to attract students. Its quite bizarre.</p>

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<p>sovereign,</p>

<p>That’s true, in fact Boston College’s Bapst Library was the main one in my day and is now for rare books and fine arts only. It was replaced by a massive new library (O’Neill), in 1984. Quite a contrast – Brutalism vs fine Gothic. Oh well, the Speaker of the House was hardly a man of great finesse! Don’t think I’d have gone to the other extreme… had it been my decision.</p>

<p>Yes, NYPL is right up there but this is a list of college libraries.</p>

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<p>Watch it, sov, you’re showing your age! ;)</p>

<p>I, myself, have never understood the benefits some ‘progress’ brings, when weighed against what is inevitably lost…I’ll most likely ‘go down with the ship’ – ah, but at least it will be a beautiful one!</p>

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<p>I toured the library at Trinity in Dublin and it is indeed as beautiful and gothic as it always looks on these lists. But that “Long Room” old part of the library is mostly just for show. Kept locked away behind doors of metal bars. The real working part of the library, where people are actually reading and looking at books and documents, is much more modern and utilitarian-looking.</p>

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<p>Hmm…“utilitarian” --so useful – beauty serves a useful purpose too.</p>

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<p>Sure, but not if you are not allowed in there; it’s not serving a useful purpose as a library. It is, however, useful for attracting tourists and selling color postcards.</p>

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<p>So, coureur, which would you prefer as a study space?</p>

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<p>In response to Leanid’s comment, the British House of Commons was actually rebuilt in the late 1940s after it was damaged by German bombs. They purposefully decided to keep it the same size, even though members have to stand.</p>

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<p>I didn’t know that. Wasn’t the House of Parliament (Westminster Hall) built on the ruins of an earlier structure (White Hall?) in the nineteenth century?</p>

<p>Also, I don’t know what you mean by the “members have to stand”. I dfistinctly recall being in the vistors gallery some thirtyfive years ago and seeing the members seated in the chamber!</p>

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<p>I would prefer a study space in which I was actually allowed to study. At Trinity that would be the utilitarian modern part of the library, not the Long Room.</p>

<p>An embalmed, doors locked, highly-restricted access, gothic tourist attraction may be impressive to look at, but if it doesn’t actually FUNCTION as a library any longer, then it’s not much good as, well… a library.</p>

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<p>coureur – I meant ‘all things being equal’, which would you prefer?</p>

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<p>^^Oh, if I were freely allowed in, of course I would prefer the beautiful old gothic building. Who wouldn’t?</p>