I've worked in several archives and rare books rooms. I tend to salivate over fancy, older, leather bindings, often tooled. Even better are the parchment-bound Incunabula, which can often be fragile. I love the smell of old books, as well. Best of all are the pen and ink drawings some have, or early engravings.

My favorite movie library is in No Man of Her Own, with Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. It's in a dreary small town, and it looks dreary too.

Jimmy Stewart checks out the local library in The Philadelphia Story.

And of course, The Music Man.

My work study job in college was in the Beinecke Library, handing out books of the porn at Pompeii.

Here is a link that might be useful: Beinecke Library

The library of the University of Salamanca in Spain is the most gorgeous one I have been in. It's like a cathedral full of books.
The old Icelandic National Library was like a temple of bibliolatry. I especially loved the reading room, with its rows of wood and leather chairs and reading lamps, and leather-bound books lining the walls.
I loved the old library of the University of Iceland before it was moved into the new National Library building. It was dark, cramped and had creaking floors and odd nooks with chairs that invited you to sit down and read for hours, and had heaps of character. The new library is totally devoid of personality while also being spacious and well-lit and librarian-friendly but not particularly welcoming. The exception is the special collections section in the basement, which has the atmosphere of a private library - in one case complete with the donor's reading desk and collection of various other stuff, like bird's eggs and rocks.

As to fiction, I wouldn't have minded being able to visit the library in The Name of the Rose. The Unseen University library in the Discworld books is interesting too, but I wouldn't want to visit it unless the Librarian was there to ensure I didn't get eaten by a grimoire. The library of lost books in Shadow of the Wind is interesting too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Salamanca University Library

I've seen the Trinity College library, too, Chris. My husband said, "This looks like your kind of place." Unfortunately, we weren't able to stay for a tour of the Bodleian in Oxford. The British Library in London certainly has lots of books, but aside from the Special Documents Room, I don't remember it being so pretty.

My favorite is the library at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. Vee once put up a picture of it, but I don't know how to do that.

The Library at Gorhmenghast before it burned. An entire building.

As a teenager, I babysat for a family that lived in an old Tudor-style mansion that had been built in the 1890s-it had a fabulous room that had been designed as a library. Stone fireplace with huge hood dominated one wall, flanked by half-bookshelves topped by windows-the diamond-paned leaded glass kind. An archway into the room was opposite, you went down two stone steps, and the rest of the walls were bookshelves. The ceilings were probably 10 foot-and there was a ladder on track on each wall. The books were mostly old, leather-bound, had been bought with the house.
Sadly, they didn't really use the room-it was dark, as the windows faced north and were further shaded by the overgrown landscaping outside-and it was clammy due to the stone floor. They had 4 young children, too-and the large fireplace and stone steps and floor could have been dangerous. There was one old velvet chair and one little lamp. I loved it-as soon as the cherubs were to bed I was in there, pretending it was mine!

It's sort of the other end of the spectrum from the Salamanca Library, but during and after college, I worked at the University of California, San Diego main library. It's now called the Geisel Library, after Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss). We used to call it the spaceship. The opening credits for the 1980s TV show "Simon and Simon" were shot there.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2113603}}

What fascinated me in the Trinity College Library were the wide books depicting processions across two pages. Sort of a C17th newsreel.
I liked working in libraries with views. One had an entire glass wall next to a wooded garden where colourful parrots flew around. The other had a balcony where we sat in our lunch breaks eating freshly cooked fish and chips and watching the boats sailing out of the marina into the ocean.
Like cc, I have also sat in the library of a stately home. This was one in Scotland that is now a Country House Hotel. In the depth of winter, I sat in a wing chair by an open fire, plate of roast beef sandwiches and drink to hand, reading a favourite book. Didn't want to move!

I would like Jay Walker's private library, please.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jay Walker's private library

Have any of you visited the famous chained library at Hereford Cathedral? Among its many treasures it houses the Mappa Mundi.
What about the Bodleian Library in Oxford? Another ancient building containing rare books and manuscripts and still in every day use by undergraduates.
Many years ago I had the chance of viewing the Book of Kells usually keep in Trinity College library but brought over to London (I think to the Royal Academy) as part of an exhibition.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hereford Chained Library

. . .and for Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Kenwood House Library

I was director of a medical library which I designed. One wall was windows (including my office) which had a fantastic view of the New York skyline. We were across the Hudson in NJ.

Thanks, Vee. I've saved in a Word document now.

Here is a slide show presentation by the NY Times of efforts being made to preserve ancient manuscripts from the ancient Timbuktu library. How wonderful it would be to actually be able to read and understand these books. It makes one almost cry out in frustration to think of what has already been lost.
And of course, I wonder what the old library actually looked like and what sort of atmosphere it had.

Here is a link that might be useful: Timbuktu library

Merry, thanks for posting that amazing video. We have, indeed, lost so much from ancient times that could be valued today. It reminded me of how much was lost when the great library of Alexandria, Egypt was burned, many centuries ago, and ancient wisdom gone forever. Not to mention all the wars in the Middle East, which have destroyed much knowledge of the ancient Muslim world....

Veer: I'll put my hand up for the Hereford library which I managed to get to after going around the ring road in circles and taking the wrong lane!
I saw the 'Book of Kells' in Dublin but never got to the Oxford library in spite of living in High Wycombe. Always it is the one under your nose that gets overlooked :-(
Leel, your medical library sounds wonderful. I was so surprised when I was in New York and I saw the Statue of Liberty was green. I thought that in one of the Wodehouse books, Bertie said that it reminded him of Honoria Glossop in a white ball gown. I must have got that wrong but I had visualed a white marble statue not a green copper one.

My favourite cinematic library appears in an Italian horror film, Dario Argento's Inferno. The library is filled with shelves of ancient leatherbound books which reach from floor to an immense domed ceiling. An ill-fated character visits it on a stormy night to search out an obscure occult text. She discovers black magic being practised on the premises. Hours later she and her boyfriend are brutally murdered in her apartment. Perhaps a warning to be careful about snooping around a library.

When we were in Ireland last year, we visited the Chester Beatty Library, which is certainly the most amazing I have been in, although it is more like a museum than what we think of as a library. Some of the manuscripts were just beautiful

Here is a link that might be useful: Chester Beatty Library

Merrywood, it isn't often that I envy people of enormous wealth, but that library built by Jay Walker does it. I couldn't believe all the bile in the comments about how he should spend his money on the poor instead of his library.

Merry, that reminded me that I have seen the ruins of the library building at Ephesus. It was gorgeous! No mention of the books by the guide, though.

Also, the library at the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC, is lovely.

The library at Ephesus was probably the most popular place in town. It was down the street from the local brothel, and made a wonderful "cover" destination.

The father of a childhood friend of mine was an English Literature professor at a two-year liberal arts college for women. I loved their house, fairly typical house for a small town, but once you stepped inside you would discover at least one wall dedicated to books in nearly every room. I remember how warm and cozy it felt.

I also love to wonder around in university libraries. You never know what you might find.

It's not famous or spectacular but my local library has charm and comfort galore. The original building was built a hundred or so years ago and additions have been made over the years. The newer bits contain the stacks, and the old, charming bits have newer books. The older parts of the building all have high celings, large windows, original wood mouldings, hardwood floors, and trees outside the windows. The books are displayed attractively with reading nooks scattered about. Picture big comfy leather chairs with small tables next to them, covered with the latest in fiction and non-fiction. Current magazines and newspapers are also at hand. I am a regular visitor, needless to say. I think of it as my own private library populated with some good friends - oh, and I don't have to clean or dust. In fact, I think I will go there now...

Siobhan, might that be the old Boston public library at Copley Square? I used to love that building, with its murals, grand staircase, and older architecture, when I lived in Boston.

The Boston Public Library is indeed a wonderful place, but this is the small library in my small town, just north of Boston. Although it is small, it is part of a large network so we have access to a huge amount of material. And for free! That just amazes me. I once had a short discussion with our mayor and asked him to send as much of my tax money as possible to the library. He actually did - he looked at the services they provide, the number of people they reach and the lack of waste in their budget, and concluded more funds would be well spent there. Now the library is open seven days a week, a rarity here.

When I first moved to Boston, my employment included a transit pass. On Sunday afternoons I often took the T to the Boston Public Library and read for an hour or two in the magical reading room. I particularly remember browsing through a biography of Paul Revere in that very place he helped make possible.

Lucky you, Siobhan. I still miss the culture and life style of the part of New England you're living in. (Not to mention the wonderful MTA! ;-)

When threads collide - here is a photo of John Updike in the Boston Public Library.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2113604}}

Leel, I think our guide said there was a tunnel from the library to the brothel. Very cultural, I'm sure.

Sarah - thank you for posting about Geisel Library at UC San Diego...as an undergraduate, I spent many an hour in the northeast corner of the 3rd or 4th floor -- the widest floor. Fond memories.

My little contribution to this thread , where a few of you have posted such interesting libraries worldwide is as follow:
at the moment I keep on studying English at an institution that happens to be also an extension of the British Council here in Genoa , Italy.
Besides having English courses, they organize debates, cultural events and so on.
If you wish to have a look at our library , please be my guest

grelobe

Here is a link that might be useful: Italo Britannica

What beautiful shelves, Grelobe. My library and its branches only have metal shelving these days.

I liked the old building of Pattee Library at Penn State, everything from the wide curved staircase to the old oak chairs in the study carrels, so much more evocative than any modern library I have ever seen. My favorite room was the huge map room with its high ceilings. I believe it is a reading room now, actually quite attractive. I preferred the old map room but they could easily have done much worse.

Rosefolly

Speaking of libraries, what about the most famous haunted library in America, namely the lovely Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana? The library has live "ghostcams".

No one has yet mentioned the library in Desk Set", a film that starred Hepburn & Tracy. She was a newspaper librarian.

Rose-you went to PSU? Are you a Nittany?

Louise Penny (Canadian mystery author extraordinaire) blogged about the Literary and Historical Society library in Quebec yesterday-I want to go there. Old, small, beautiful, peaceful and light.

Chris, it is amazing to me how judgmental people are about how others spend their own money! I remember when Bill Gates first donated computers to small, underfunded public libraries all over the United States, many people were critical of that. Go figure.

Cece, yes, I was a student at Penn State back in the mid 1970's. I really loved that place, as so many students do, so much that it is nicknamed Happy Valley. The campus has really changed, more buildings and sadly less garden, but still an attractive campus. A couple of years ago on a visit to a former roommate (now the registrar!) I had a chance to wander around exploring. While there I fulfilled a dream of my student days by staying in the Nittany Inn. Are you by any chance a former Penn State student as well?

Rosefolly

There is even a book on this topic. I admit to being tempted, but no, I am being selective these days. But I'd love to look through it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Most Beautiful Libraries

I am a fan of any and all libraries. While on vacation, I seek out libraries and visit whether they be big or small. I often make a small donation along with a note just to say that I am a visitor from out of town, and thank you for this lovely library. My small town is a bit of a tourist destination, so very often, I will ask my librarian/friends for a few pens with our name on them. When visiting another library, I will hand one to the librarian I am chatting with as a small gift from a fellow booklover. I am weird like that.

As for tv/book/movie libraries, I, too, heartily second the Professor's library in My Fair Lady. As far as personal libraries go, that is just about perfect. And the library at Hogwart's in the Harry Potter movies is also a favorite... although you'd not catch me roaming about that castle at night by myself, invisibility cloak or not.

PAM

I had the chance to visit the Bernadotte Library in the Royal Palace in Stockholm, home to the private book collections of Sweden's kings and queens since 1796. It is a beautiful library but most interesting was to see what books the royals liked to read. Queen Sophia (1836-1918)was very fond of English novels with names like My Honey. The present king has added nothing to the library yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bernadottebiblioteket

My small town's library mentioned above is one of those that received computer money from Bill Gates - it is is impossible to overestimate the positive effect this has had, and continues to have on the little place. The computers brought in people who hadn't been to a libary in years, who picked up a book or two and then became regulars who enjoy all the library offerings, including paintings, dvds, cds, recorded books, classes, and lectures. A teen corner gives kids a safe, productive place to hang on after-school afternoons. All because of the computers!

For myself, I stopped buying those hideously expensive printer cartridges some time ago, and just print out what I need for a few pennies at the library. I can take my laptop and enjoy free wireless there as well. As a student, I took advantage of this several times a week.

I don't know how much my post fits in this thread, but wouldn't it be funny, enjoyable and relaxing to live in this town, of course, it should exist

Sixpence House by Paul Collins

Here is a link that might be useful: Sixpence House

Grelobe, I followed up your link. I'm not sure but I think that the town described is real. It seems to me that I've heard of it before.

In any case, I wanted to share a quote from the review.

Collins is a writer and also a lover of books. For him abandoning San Francisco is an easy choice because it's too expensive and because his neighbors, in their painstakingly restored Victorian houses, apparently never read. 'All those beautiful built-in bookshelves?' Collins says. 'They don't hold any books.' Indeed his real-estate agent tells him 'You have too many books in here. Home buyers don't like books . . . . Really. You should hide them.'

Alas, if we every have to sell our house, there will be a problem. It is filled with books, and we have several built-in bookcases. I live about an hour away from SF, so perhaps this is true here, too. It is an area with a serious interest in education, so maybe it is not. I often see long lines at the public library.

Perhaps built-in bookcases are like built-in swimming pools, very desirable to those who want them, and a burden to those who do not.

Rosefolly

Well, Hay-on-Wye is a real place.

I have seen that too on "getting your house ready to sell" shows and in articles-and I guess there is a rationale, in that if the decoration is too personal, prospective buyers have a hard time visualizing themselves living there.

I'm not sure but I think that the town described is real. It seems to me that I've heard of it before.

probably you are right Rosefolly, I just skimmed the blurb on amazon

grelobe

grelobe, I thoroughly enjoyed Sixpence house, as has everyone who has borrowed it from me. Based on the cover of my copy, it is non-fiction and based in Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh/English border. Here is a link to their website.

If houses with books do not sell, I am doomed to live in my current home forever... as are all of me descendents.

PAM

Here is a link that might be useful: Official Hay-on-Wye website

A friend of mine just wrote a piece for Smithsonian magazine about unusual libraries.

Here is a link that might be useful: Libraries' Surprising Special Collections