Most people assume that libraries are all about lending books and that all the library workers do is check books out and put them away—but libraries do much, much more than that.
Public libraries are often community hubs that offer valuable public services, from hosting events and holding classes to providing a free third space for people to just exist without the expectation of pulling out their wallets. But then there are also academic libraries, archives, special collections, and so, so much more in the broad field of library and information science.
The longer I work in a library the more I realize that most people don’t actually understand libraries and what they do. I could spend hours detailing the preservation, conservation, and education work libraries perform. It would be easy to infodump about how libraries are at the forefront of accessible information and the fight against censorship. The history and development of libraries into what they are now could quite literally fill many, many books.
And what does all this have to do with traveling? Well, across the world are many amazing libraries that one can visit! Featured below are just a mere handful of the phenomenal libraries open to visitors:
The al-Qarawiyyin Library
The al-Qarawiyyin Library of the al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, Morocco, is the oldest library in the world that’s still in use. Its history is filled with powerful women! Having initially opened in 859 C.E. by heiress Fatima Al-Firhi, the library was recently opened again to the public in 2016 after extensive restoration work by Canadian-Moroccan architect Aziza Chanoui. Chanoui not only did her best to restore the library to its former glory, but she also modernized many library features (solar panels, digital locks to the rare books room, temperature, and humidity controls, etc.) to allow the library to continue functioning safely for a long time to come while also allowing the public to have greater access to this priceless historical library.
The Redwood Library & Athenæum
If you’re looking for something a little more domestic, Rhode Island’s Redwood Library & Athenæum was chartered in 1747 and is the USA’s oldest operating lending library still with its original structure, and it is the nation’s oldest public Neoclassical building. It’s also a museum and rare book repository, and there are countless events such as lectures and gallery talks throughout the year, so there is always something for visitors to do!
Sometimes bigger is indeed better, and that’s always true when it comes to libraries. The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. is the biggest library collection in the world, boasting everything from the largest rare book collection in North America to being home to materials in 470-some languages. Every day the library receives around 15,000 items and adds more than 10,000 items to its collection. In a world where information is continually growing exponentially, The Library of Congress is one of the best places in the world to help catalog it! While some materials are only available for researchers, a lot of the library and its materials can be accessed by the public, although to get inside you do have to reserve a (free!) ticket as the library wants to keep the buildings at safe levels of occupancy.
Once the biggest library in the world before being overtaken by The Library of Congress, The British Library is nothing to sneeze at! It functions as a major research library, but it’s open to the public every day of the week and offers plenty of events, special exhibitions, and galleries to visit! Needless to say, there’s never a shortage of things to do and see in this spectacular library.
Boasting over 18 million visitors each year, the New York Public Library is potentially the most-visited library in the world. The library is known not only for its amazing architecture and extensive collections but also for having famous media items like the stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories. And, like many public libraries, it hosts its fair share of events! Not to mention, it’s in New York City, and its proximity to many other visitor hot spots makes it a great stop during a trip to the city.