Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
All of the libraries in the world—whether small or large, public or private—serve the same purpose: to preserve, cherish, or show off the riches of human knowledge. Now, for the first time, an internationally renowned photographer takes the reader on a journey to more than 20 of the most historic of these magical places, all architectural treasures. From the dramatic, baroque Library of the Institut de France in Paris, to the splendid Vatican Library in Rome; from the majestic Royal Library...
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Even the wonderful photographs of de Laubier couldn't completely capture the magnificence of these 23 libraries on a single 11x11" page; hence, there are a number of 11x33" foldouts. The libraries featured include the National Library of Austria, the Benedictine Abbey Library of Metten (Germany), the Vatican Library, the Mazarine Library in Paris, the Bodleian Library in Oxford, Trinity College Library in Dublin, the National Library in Prague, the National Palace Library in Mafra Portugal, the Library of Congress in Washington DC, and the National Library of Russia in St. Petersburg. The text describes each Library's history as well as it's current holdings and how it is used today. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, ORThe New York TimesThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World offers a stunning variety of beautiful, ornate monuments to reading. —Janet Maslin
Foreword6Introduction8Vienna, Austria - National Library of Austria12Admont, Austria - The Benedictine Abbey Library of Admont22Ulm, Germany - The Monastic Library at Wiblingen32Metten, Germany - The Benedictine Abbey Library of Metten42Weimar, Germany - The Herzogin Anna Amalia Library52Rome, Italy - The Vatican Library60Florence, Italy - Riccardiana Library74Paris, France - The Mazarine Library82Paris, France - The Institute Library90Paris, France - The Senate Library98Chantilly, France - The Cabinet Des Livres of the Duc D'Aumale110Saint Gall, Switzerland - The Abbey Library of Saint Gall122Oxford, England - Bodleian Library136Cambridge, England - Wren Library, Trinity College146Manchester, England - The John Rylands Library156Dublin, Ireland - Trinity College Library168Prague, The Czech Republic - The National Library176San Lorenzo del Escorial, Spain - The Library of the Royal Monastery of El Escorial188Mafra, Portugal - The National Palace Library in Mafra198Boston, United States of America - Boston Athenaeum206Washington, DC, United States of America - The Library of Congress216New York, United States of America - The New York Public Library226Saint Petersburg, Russia - The National Library of Russia236Bibliography246
\ The New York TimesThe Most Beautiful Libraries in the World offers a stunning variety of beautiful, ornate monuments to reading. Janet Maslin\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalThe profession's crown jewels are on display in this engaging pictorial tour of 23 libraries in Europe and the United States, yielding what could be the most beautiful photography book ever on libraries. Opulent Baroque and monastic libraries in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Spain are followed by famous institutions such as Oxford's Bodleian Library; the Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge; the John Rylands Library in Manchester, England; and Dublin's Trinity College Library. Noteworthy additions to the expected pantheon are the national libraries of Russia, the Czech Republic, and Portugal. U.S. libraries honored by inclusion are the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library, and the Boston Athenaeum. Introductions to each library relate its history, collection treasures, art, and architectural aesthetics. This is a French production, written by journalist and critic Bosser and graced with a foreword by James Billington, Librarian of Congress. The 200 full-page and foldout color plates by Laubier, a prominent interior design photographer, not only capture in national and religious context each library's stunning, perfect beauty (never a book out of place, let alone a wayward user) but also convey the civilizing and educational power of manuscripts and printed books in historic settings. Recommended for larger libraries and for all librarians as a splendid counterpoint to our increasingly digital and virtual world; equally valuable for architectural collections.--Russell T. Clement, Northwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.\ \
