Never mind that old adage about judging a book by its cover: the way a library is designed makes an undeniable difference for its patrons. Here are 20 of the nation's most picturesque.
Although libraries function first as repositories for books and other materials, Megan Barber writes, "they also serve as places to study, research, and contemplate." In the digital age, their uses are expanding even further. It's no wonder many of them (though not all, sadly) have been designed with uplifting or thought-provoking aesthetics in mind.
From modern constructs like Rem Koolhaas' Seattle Central Library to iconic spaces like the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Barber gives us a rundown of architectural explorations of the form.
The list includes a wide variety of styles from the contemporary Billings Public Library, completed in 2015, to Seattle's cathedral-esque Suzzallo Library or the strikingly Brutalist Geisel Library at the University of California San Diego. Whether you're an architecture aficionado or a bibliophile (or both), check it out.
Read the full story: The 20 most beautiful libraries in the U.S.
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Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello