7 Best University Libraries In The World You Must Visit
There are many things to do at your uni apart from attending lectures, going for on-campus tours, or chit-chatting at the canteens. As a matter of fact, if you’re up for exploring all the unique aspects that constitute your university, you will find your favourite spot at libraries. Some of the best university libraries in the world attract both students and visitors alike, not just for their wide collection of books or manuscripts, but due to the architecture and design involved in these buildings. If you’re here to enhance your study abroad experience, here’s a list of the most beautiful university libraries in the world that you should know of.
List Of The Best University Libraries In The World
TAMA Art University Library
Designed by the renowned Japanese artist Toyo Ito, the library is made of iconic concrete and glass structure. The first floor features an all-purpose and gallery space available to hold various events and exhibitions as well as a theatre area with a big screen. On the second floor, open-access shelves hold about 100,000 books as well as private reading seats and a photocopying machine. If you are studying in Japan with a scholarship or are just visiting the country as a tourist, you must visit the Tama Art University Library. The library is beautiful to look at inside and out and is one of the most amazing university libraries in the world. The building’s exterior resembles a cube-shaped colosseum with hundreds of arches and vaulted ceilings spread over 60,000 square feet.
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Philological Library
The Philological Library of the Free University in Germany is located on the campus of the Free University in Germany and was created and designed by the international artist Norman Foster. The library was made open to the public in the year 2005 and was created by merging the smaller libraries on the campus including other departments. It contains four floors within a ventilated bubble-like canopy, and the inner membrane is constructed of translucent glass that filters the sun to allow the sun to warm cold mornings in the city. The Philological Library houses more than 700,000 volumes and serves as an architectural landmark in Berlin making it one of the best university libraries in the world.
UNAM’s Central University City Campus Library
The City Campus Library of UNAM’s City Campus in Mexico City is part of the group of unique architectural structures that earned a campus recognition as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) belongs to Ciudad Universitaria and is the largest of its kind in Mexico making it one of the best university libraries in the world. Created by the Mexican artist Juan O’Gorman, the building is covered with the historical representation of Mexico’s culture. The library was opened to its users in 1956 and the central library hosts some of the administrative offices of the General Libraries Directorate of the UNAM.
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is the largest collection of historic and publicly accessible books in Canada. If you are pursuing your education at the University of Toronto, you must visit this library. It consists of rare books, manuscripts, scientific documents, groundbreaking research findings, and a lot more. Some of the most notable pieces in the Rare Book Library include original Shakespeare folios, a proof copy of Darwin’s Origin of Species, Newton’s Principia Mathematica, and two copies of the Nuremberg Chronicle that date back to 1493. What makes it one of the best university libraries in the world is that its collection includes medieval manuscripts, early printed books, and special volumes of later periods that had been presented by Queen Victoria to the University.
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The University Of Coimbra General Library
Formed somewhere between 1532 and 1536, the Coimbra General Library is the second largest library in Portugal. The library is divided into two: Biblioteca Joanina, named on behalf of King João V, was established in the first part of the 18th century. This Baroque building contains more than 200,000 books printed before 1800 and is among the stunning university libraries around the world. The latest building, Edificio Novo was formed in the year 1962 and is a four-story library that houses more than a million books and has exquisite architecture and design.
University Of Szeged Klebelsberg Library
Obstructed in 2004, this library was initially a non-profit investment that turned into a profit-oriented attraction in the recent past. Every day, the library welcomes at least 5,000 visitors and is spacious, massive, and grand. The library apart from being a reading space for university students is also commonplace for international events and conferences, lectures, and other mass gatherings. The library has the capacity to hold 2 million books which it already does. Located in the third-largest city in Hungary, the centre has become a hub of cultural and scientific activity for the university, as well as the entire city of Szeged.
Asian Institute of Medicine, Science, And Technology
The Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology is home to one of the most amazing college libraries in the world. This library is also one of the fastest-growing archives in the world. The library infrastructure highly depends on natural sunlight to preserve rare manuscripts and books stored by the library. If you are studying in Malaysia with a scholarship or are just visiting as a tourist, visiting this institute’s library should be at the top of your bucket list.
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