SkyscraperPage Forum

SkyscraperPage Forum (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/index.php)
-   Buildings & Architecture (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=397)
-   -   Architecture of Bibliotopia: Library Pr0n (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192176)

Troubadour Jun 27, 2011 8:36 PM

Architecture of Bibliotopia: Library Pr0n
 
Libraries are (or at least should be) magical places. And sometimes they succeed at that beyond imagination. Post your library pr0n here. I'll start things off with the Peabody Library in Baltimore - a wonder of wonders that gives me the same spine-tingling awe as Amiens Cathedral:

http://hopkins.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8...153b970b-800wi
(Credit: Johns Hopkins University at http://hopkins.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8...153b970b-800wi)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...e_-_view_1.jpg
(Public Domain at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...e_-_view_1.jpg)

texcolo Jun 27, 2011 9:50 PM

Nice idea for a thread and nice library in Baltimore.

Cirrus Jun 27, 2011 9:52 PM

Great idea for a thread!

I am ashamed to say that I have never been in that Baltimore library, even though it is so close.

Here is the Library of Congress, Washington, DC:

http://beyonddc.com/privatesets/2006...ba100_7798.jpg
my picture

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/...cbb3c007_z.jpg
from flickr user rien de nouveau


And here is the Boston Public Library:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/...6c8dcfab_b.jpg
by flickr user joseph a

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/...b9ac9a61_b.jpg
my picture

arkhitektor Jun 27, 2011 11:06 PM

Salt Lake City Library:

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/o...l/17273875.jpg
idahoairships

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/...67b4a2c7a6.jpg
Salt Lake City Library by Shaan Hurley, on Flickr

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/68...e89f196892.jpg
Salt Lake UT (312) by Ken Lund, on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/...9c155e2624.jpg
Salt Lake City Public Library by tmac97slc, on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/...b78586c604.jpg
Salt Lake City Library by informationgoddess29, on Flickr

photoLith Jun 27, 2011 11:13 PM

Holy crap, that staircase on the outside of the SLC library is kick ass.

CGII Jun 27, 2011 11:22 PM

Exeter Library, Lou Kahn:

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kx...vmb9o1_500.jpg
28.media.tumblr.com

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2613/...046423ec_o.jpg
flickriver.com

http://www.mimoa.eu/images/18023_l.jpg
mimoa.eu

hauntedheadnc Jun 28, 2011 2:38 AM

The Biltmore library, with approximately 10,000 volumes.

http://primemontgomery.com/wp-conten...-Library72.jpg

Source.

It's hard to find decent images of the interior of Biltmore House because they don't allow photography inside the structure.

In addition to the books -- which you can still peruse if you are a researcher with permission from the Estate -- perhaps the most noteworthy feature of the library is the ceiling. The painting is called The Chariot of Aurora and was taken from a palace in Venice.

Here's a link to a good shot that someone snuck inside the library, showing the ceiling.

Troubadour Jun 28, 2011 4:53 AM

Canadian Library of Parliament:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ent_Ottawa.jpg
(Credit: Ashwin Kumar, at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...ent_Ottawa.jpg)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nt_2-19-09.JPG
(Public domain)

Tolbert Jun 28, 2011 6:42 AM

Anna Amalia Library, Weimar, Germany
http://www.buecher-wiki.ch/uploads/B...aik_schuck.jpg
http://www.buecher-wiki.ch/uploads/B...aik_schuck.jpg

Grimm Library, Berlin, Germany
http://www.moritzhaemmerlein.de/wp-c...bibliothek.jpg
http://www.moritzhaemmerlein.de/wp-c...bibliothek.jpg

Centropolis Jul 9, 2011 3:44 PM

Heres the St. Louis Central Library - it's currently being renovated, so these are out of date. It's a Cass Gilbert product circa 1912.

http://visualarts.mit.edu/images/work/kw_stlouis2.jpg
http://visualarts.mit.edu/images/work/kw_stlouis2.jpg

it used to have this weird glass floor that was pretty beat up. There are also classic old school "library tech" cork floors which are being restored.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/...a790f1539a.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/...f485daf017.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...8e53e170_m.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...8e53e170_m.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickcity/4633478930/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brickcity/4633478930/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/...8d696d6be3.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/...8d696d6be3.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...ec051b85ba.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/...ec051b85ba.jpg

Expat Jul 10, 2011 1:17 AM

Great idea for a thread. I grew up in libraries and love them. Centropolis, thanks for posting the STL library pics. I love that place. Looking forward to seeing it post-renovation.

Centropolis Jul 10, 2011 2:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expat (Post 5342727)
Great idea for a thread. I grew up in libraries and love them. Centropolis, thanks for posting the STL library pics. I love that place. Looking forward to seeing it post-renovation.

Yeah, I sort of grew up in libraries too, and then worked in one in college. I wonder if I'm the last generation that did, kinda makes me sad. I was born in 1981 for "reference." :cool:

LMich Jul 10, 2011 2:12 AM

I was thinking the the Detroit Public Library - Main Library looked incredibly familiar to St. Louis's inside and out, and then realized they are by the same archtitect. In fact, the one in St. Louis looks like the Detroit Institute of Art right across the street from the Main Library.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/5...800111f1_b.jpg
anikarenina

The other notable branch is the Detroit Public Library - Skillman Branch, which is actually in the heart of downtown (the Main Library is actually a few miles north in Midtown):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/...9046298c_b.jpg
Eridony

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/4...5f4e87b5_b.jpg
Pinhurst19475

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/10...1b25c334_b.jpg
donjoz

I love the sayvings around the top of the building, as well as the labeling of the avenues on each end of the building. It's the kind of detail you just don't see, anymore.

I'm not a fan of the architecture, but the sheer size of the Library of Michigan in Lansing is impressive. Supposedly, it's the second largest state library in the country. The building includes the state archives and the state historical museum, as well.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/3...43f_z.jpg?zz=1
Mr Niceguy

jetsetter Jul 10, 2011 2:46 AM

Unfortunately almost every library built after 1940 or so are godawful modernist architectural abominations. Almost all of the Carnegie libraries were good looking and a list/photos of them can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_library

Codex Nov 3, 2011 11:40 AM

A few UK Libraries -

Liverpool Picton Reading Room and Hornby Library - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picton_...Hornby_Library

Pics coutesy of Simon Curran - Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/...b63cd6d4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/...692a5578_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/...2c468015_b.jpg

Manchester Central Library

Pic - Matthew Black (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/...f315a429_b.jpg

pic - mirki (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/...4f67a7b6_b.jpg

Bristol Central Library

pic - bolou (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/...1c60be13_b.jpg

pic- stevecadman (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/...cd46cf64_b.jpg

Edinburgh Central Reference Library

chris_malcolm (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/...d500513d_b.jpg

Tales of One City (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/...ea977393_b.jpg

Mitchell Library - Glasgow (the largest public reference library in Europe)

Oldsch00l (flickr)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/...2a37c9af_o.jpg

brotherofapesod (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/...ab10c64f_o.jpg

John Rylands - Manchester

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rylands_Library

Video Link


Anosmia (flickr)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/...52154a91_b.jpg

Paul Williamson-GWC (flickr)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5192/...b32299cd_b.jpg

Paul Williamson-GWC (flickr)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/...8f0f53bd_b.jpg

Paul Williamson-GWC (flickr)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/...a12a6793_b.jpg

Paul Williamson-GWC (flickr)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/...177d979e_b.jpg

Anosmia (flickr)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/...015fbc1c_b.jpg

Paul Williamson-GWC (flickr)

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/...e396de9c_b.jpg

Chetham's (Medieval Chained) Library - Manchester (oldest free public reference library in the United Kingdom)

Video Link


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chetham's_Library

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chained_library

All pics - The Edditer (flickr)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/...a31013e1_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/...f1aa0b00_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/...a338b5e1_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/...c0147f7a_b.jpg

Bodleian Library - Oxford

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodleian_Library

List of Oxford University College Libraries - http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/libraries

BillKatyGemma(flickr)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5205/...499205ab_b.jpg

Duke Humphrey Reading Room

Keli Rylance (picasa)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8GFLc-pzUOs/Rq...keHumfreys.jpg

CaputAethiopum (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2453/...85efecec_b.jpg

Wren Library - Trbity College - Cambridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrid...ersity_Library

List of Cambridge University College Libraries - http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/libraries_d...y.cgi?option=C

wgsiesser (flickr)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1330/...405d691e_b.jpg

lauralilauralu (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/...e61d4e29_b.jpg

lauralilauralu (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/...efa46ede_b.jpg

British Museum Library - Reading Room

The Reading Room was used by a large number of famous figures, including notably Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, Mahatma Gandhi, Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell, George Bernard Shaw, Mark Twain, Lenin, Norbert Elias, Virginia Woolf, Arthur Rimbaud and H. G. Wells.

http://www.londonwallpapers.org/wp-c...-_1152x864.jpg

Rico Rommheim Nov 3, 2011 2:43 PM

Those english libraries are in-sane.

MolsonExport Nov 3, 2011 4:01 PM

That's it. I'm moving to England.

Codex Nov 3, 2011 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport (Post 5466719)
That's it. I'm moving to England.

Canada and the US have some beautiful and amazing libraries :)

Not sure I would like to be alone in a medieval libraries - lol

amor de cosmos Nov 4, 2011 5:19 AM

building M-55 @ NRC, ottawa

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/4...ad9b846c_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gandalf_grey/416521287/

bennett library, sfu

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1431/...aee5b6ca_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cattle_class/873622113/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/...20789799_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/weederman/5753382752/

the sugar cube, UWaterloo

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/...4a7f101a_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_la...86/2954981029/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/...b63987bf_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mseliske/4397618644/

korner @ ubc

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3328/...98c194e7_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenccwu/3268823344/

national library & archives, ottawa

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/4...9a8e8d24_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve-brandon/434535381/

Codex Nov 4, 2011 1:34 PM

http://www.bl.uk/

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/inrrooms/readingrooms.html

The British Library in London was a controversial building. The original library was part of the British Museum with the main reading room being the British Museums reading room which is still in use. The new library was designed to both blend in with the beautiful listed St Pancras station next door, to be very functional and to help regenerate the once seedy St Pancras/Kings Cross Area which was once more famous for prostitution and other such unsavoury activities.

The Library opened in 1998 and since this time has become a much loved institution due to it's functionality and it being a driving force in terms of investment in this area of London, with a £600 million Medical Research Centre, the Francis Crick Institution currently being built next door to the library, massive investment in St Pancras International next door (and train journey times between London and Paris set to be cut to less than 2 hours), whilst the whole Kings Cross Area as well as the station are currently undergoing massive redvelopment.

http://www.crick.ac.uk/

http://www.kingscrosscentral.com/

http://stpancras.com/

This contrasts with the fortunes of the French National Library, a building designed to shout it's presence as a moument to the late President Mitterrand, and which has been criticised for being windwept, unwelcoming and not meeting the functions of the public it serves. The Parisan Bibliothèque nationale has been plagued with problems not least the fact that they had to buy blinds after they realised the sun streaming through the windows was ruining the books, whilst the windswept space between the French Libraries four main buildings has also been widely criticised.

http://www.studio-international.co.u...sh_library.asp

http://www.timeout.com/paris/attract...ois-mitterrand

The Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris -

Video Link


http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/...600873cc_b.jpg

It should however be noted that despite some criticism of it's new building, France's BnF has an amazing collection and is without doubt one of the greatest libraries in the world :)

Video Link




The British Library -

Video Link


Video Link


Video Link


Historian David Professor Starkey at the British Libraries 500th Anniversary of Henry VIII Exhibition

http://www.bl.uk/henry

Video Link


Video Link


Business and IP Centre

http://www.bl.uk/bipc/

Video Link


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/27/54...9ac1922d_b.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Interior02.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/3...598042ca_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/3...8f4d3a68_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/...23771b08_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/...abfbba85_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/...bbf1538d_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/...0deaa839_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/...b7389716_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/...154471e1_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/...b586c17c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2475/...c8a34233_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/...5cfcdb6e_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/...e4978a12_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/...94a77ddc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/...1ed2ec1f_b.jpg

The real star of this area is St Pancras and not the British Library, and the Library was designed with this in mind does, not wishing to detract from the beautiful gothic station and it's surroundings.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/...bf8c69b6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/...b4461b08_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/...9ed7fa6c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2381/...486aae8b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/...77db11bc_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/...8d4b4a95_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/...4d5a445b_b.jpg

Codex Nov 4, 2011 1:55 PM

In the United Kingdom the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 restates the Copyright Act 1911, that one copy of every book (which includes pamphlets, magazines and newspapers) published there must be sent to the British Library; five other libraries (the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, Cambridge University Library, the National Library of Scotland, the Library of Trinity College, Dublin and the National Library of Wales) are entitled to request a free copy within one year of publication.

http://www.legaldeposit.org.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_D...aries_Act_2003

National Library of Scotland

http://www.nls.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...ry_of_Scotland

Video Link


Sh0rty (flickr)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/14...34fcd259_b.jpg

The National Library of Wales

http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Library_of_Wales

Video Link


Max_Alex (flickr)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/...409047b0_b.jpg

Trinity College Dublin

http://www.tcd.ie/Library/epb/history.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library...ollege,_Dublin

Video Link


fisherbray (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3438/...f4baaa5b_b.jpg

Codex Nov 4, 2011 3:51 PM

Trinity College Dublin Library -

http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb...0-CDDA2F15.jpg

amor de cosmos Nov 4, 2011 4:48 PM

I was just thinking of the old library at trinity college... :tup:

Rico Rommheim Nov 4, 2011 5:17 PM

Meanwhile in Montreal...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...c-exterior.jpg
wikipedia

Codex Nov 6, 2011 5:22 PM

Wills Memorial Library - Bristol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wills_Memorial_Building

sbdugdale (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbdugda...n/photostream/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/...776e80e4_o.jpg

Brainsky (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_san...57624916156003

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/...5128c2b1_b.jpg

Mikepaws (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2711824...n/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/...e7024622_b.jpg

Mikepaws (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2711824...n/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/...1b316fcb_b.jpg

Mikepaws (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2711824...n/photostream/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/...7bb2dffa_b.jpg

Codex Nov 6, 2011 10:23 PM

Europeana -

http://www.europeana.eu/portal/



The European Library -

http://search.theeuropeanlibrary.org.../en/index.html

Video Link

MolsonExport Nov 7, 2011 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codex (Post 5470160)

Not Willis. Wills. As in the Wills Tobacco family of Bristol, benefactors to Bristol University. My ancestors. I am a direct descendent of H.O. Wills.

The_Architect Nov 7, 2011 5:08 PM

University of Toronto's Robarts Library, otherwise known as "Fort Book":

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hAr4UcNoCR...RobartsLib.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...se,_U_of_T.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/...2f5fcb0352.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3606/...a1f78d4323.jpg

Codex Nov 7, 2011 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport (Post 5471238)
Not Willis. Wills. As in the Wills Tobacco family of Bristol, benefactors to Bristol University. My ancestors. I am a direct descendent of H.O. Wills.

Corrected the spelling - there were quite a few Wills factories across the UK and they were a very wealthy and prominant family. :)

Beauiful Library and many of the Wills factories were beautiful Art Deco buildings like the one in Newcastle which was converted in to apartments :)

Here's a link to some of the Carnegie Libraries of Scotland

http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/diverse.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ries_in_Europe




:)

Codex Nov 9, 2011 4:27 PM

In London alone there are reckoned to be over 21 million academic books held by Higher Education Institutions, with a further 17 million held by London's public lending libraries on top of the 14 million kept by the British Library. London is also home to the largest independent lending library in the world, the London Library and there are numerous collections held by a vast array of academies, institutions, societies, professional associations, city livery companies, galleries and museums such as the Bishopsgate Institution , Kew Gardens (Horticultural Library), National Art Library, National Maritime Museum (Caird Library) and Royal Society (Scientific Library), Royal Institution, Royal Academy, Royal College of Medicine, British Medical Association, Royal College of Surgeons. Kings Fund (Medicine) Inns of Court (Law), Science Museum, British Museum, Natural History Museum etc etc

http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/...s-about-london

http://www.londonhigher.ac.uk/filead...Keyfacts06.pdf

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/infostudies/unc...in%20today.ppt.

The Wellcome Library also on Euston Road pictured below (mainly medical and scientific) - the Wellcome Trust and Colleges of the Unversity of London are part of the partnership behind the new Francis Crick Institute (UKCMRI) being built at Brill place beside the British Library. The Wellcome Library is directly next door to the modern glass Wellcome Trust building on Euston Road, which itself is right next door to the new University College London Hospital building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellcome_Trust

http://www.hopkins.co.uk/projects/1/121/

http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/

http://www.crick.ac.uk/

The Wellcome Trust's History

Video Link


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/...0bc803c2_o.jpg

The Glorious Art Deco University of London Senate House Library next door to the British Museum and not far from the British Library.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_...ity_of_London))

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/2...1eaa9fbc_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/...0d5e9d4b_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/4...2c189e21_b.jpg

Couple of other specialist libraries within the University of London - (The UCL Library, Institute of Education and now independent Imperial Colleges London Library, are also worth mentioning - although I don't want to post too many pics, so have chosen the specialist collections held by SOAS, LSE Lbrary and Kings Colleges Maughan Library). A lot of specialist UK collections can be found on the COPAC Bibliographic database.

http://copac.ac.uk/libraries/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_Libraries_UK

University of London - http://www.lon.ac.uk/

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_...frican_Studies


http://www.flickr.com/photos/soasnew...n/photostream/

SOAS Newsroom - (flickr)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1304/...ca817020_b.jpg

http://finder.arcadia.edu/finder/sit...as_library.jpg

Kings College London - Maughan Library (Chancery Lane, London)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maughan_Library

Crowcombe Al (flickr) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/deerlea...n/photostream/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/...97b493bd_b.jpg

SodiumLights (flickr) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/8321171@N04/3298022569/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/...f9d1a7d4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/...349307b3_b.jpg

London School of Economics and Political Science - Home to the 'British Library of Political and Economic Science'

http://www2.lse.ac.uk/library/home.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...onomic_Science

http://www.thetravelingscholar.com/w...1-1024x768.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...elibrary_1.jpg

Codex Nov 9, 2011 5:51 PM

This article below by Guardian Journalist Stuart Jeffries quite amusingly illustrates the problems of having to hold a copy of evertything puiblished in the nation, and the many problem in relation to storage of such a vast amount of articles, books, documents and other information.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007...4/architecture

The British Library has storage facilities in Woolwich, Colindale (Newspapers) and at Boston Spa near Wetherby in West Yorkshire (which is being massively redeveloped to hold more books and newspapers) as well as it's massive site on Euston Road. The Library is also home to a book preservation, conservation and repair centre, as well as a national audio and music library.

http://www.bl.uk/careers/locations.html

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whats.../homepage.html

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/bldept/soun...ndarchive.html

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=10946

British Library new planned storage facilities - Boston Spa site

http://static.worldarchitecturenews....ibrary1big.JPG

It's also not just the British Library (14 million books and over 150 million items), the Bodleian (11 million books) has had to invest in a massive new storage facility in Swindon (as part of a massive redevelopment of the entire library) whilst the other deposit libaries - National Library of Scotland (7 million books), National Library of Wales (4 million books), Cambridge University (12 million books), Trinity College Dublin (5 million books) are also increasingly having to invest in ever larger storage facilities, and similar investments are having to be made by major libraries and archives across the globe.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/b...tle-space.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshir...00/9062875.stm

Bodleian Libraries New Automated Storage Facilities in Swindon (below)

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...bodleian_2.jpg

The UK National Archive which is based at Kew in London (below)

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...s%2C_Kew_6.jpg

The National Archive (pictured above) has even started using the space in a Cheshire salt mine to store some of it's vast array of records.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery...620904&index=0

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7911124.stm

http://www.deepstore.com/

Video Link


http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...d-as-d-010.jpg

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...d-as-d-003.jpg

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/...d-as-d-002.jpg

It's also not just books the British Film Institute (BFI) had to build a vast specialist storage facility for it's highly inflammable Acetate and Nitrate Film Stores in Warwickshire

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/f...ollection.html

http://beta.bfi.org.uk/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...herts-13539340

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_National_Archive

http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/...roughcells.jpg

http://cdn.archdaily.net/wp-content/...mundsumner.jpg

BBC Archive - which has since moved to a new building at Perivale in London

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/abouttheb...entre-at.shtml

Video Link


Picture below - The British Library's New Additional Storage Building (ASB) in Boston Spa (Near Wetherby, West Yorkshire in England), is seen during the installation of automated racking. The British Library is re-housing part of its collection in new facilities that will hand responsibility for the storage and retrieval of seven million items to a robotic crane rather than a librarian.

Video Link


Adrian Smales (Flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/asmales...7622974907620/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/...caea492a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/...6eb610ec_o.jpg

http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/imag...rary-books.jpg

MolsonExport Nov 12, 2011 4:11 AM

Some of those British/Irish libraries are better than sex.

Codex Nov 12, 2011 10:34 AM

The London Library, founded by Thomas Carlyle in 1841, is the world's largest independent lending library, and is located in the north west corner of St James Square in buildings dating back to the 1890s. Behind its discrete, formal facade onto St James Square, the original Library was added to and extended on a number of occasions in the course of the 20th century to accommodate its ever growing collection of books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Library

http://www.londonlibrary.co.uk/index.php

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built/proj13/index.html

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built/proj02/index.html





http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/01.jpg

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/02.jpg

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/12.jpg

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/11.jpg

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/10.jpg

http://www.haworthtompkins.com/built.../photos/03.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ibraryLogo.jpg

Codex Nov 12, 2011 1:30 PM

The new Library of Birmingham (in England) typifies a move to what has been deemed the super-library, examples of such new modern libraries have been built in cities such as Norwich, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Swindon, Ilford in Essex, Worcester, Cardiff, Canada Water in London and Brighton. These new super libraries don't usually replace any beautiful historic libraries, but are questionable at a time when small local libraries are coming under increasing pressure due to spending cuts. Thankfully cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bristol are refurbishing their old historic libraries and includng them in any refurbishment and redevlopment plans :)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010...margaret-hodge

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011...ingham-council

http://www.mla.gov.uk/news_and_views...l_Central.aspx

The Library of Birmingham due to open in 2013

Video Link


http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...62701368_n.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/...175bc69a_b.jpg
The Library of Birmingham - Cambridge Street by ell brown, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/...88f1fc07_b.jpg
The Library of Birmingham - Cambridge Street by ell brown, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/...9b7716d4_b.jpg
The Library of Birmingham - Cambridge Street by ell brown, on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/...77eaa688_b.jpg
The Library of Birmingham - Cambridge Street by ell brown, on Flickr


:)

hunser Nov 12, 2011 2:17 PM

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
(Austrian National Library)

Located in the "Hofburg", it is one the most beautiful libraries in the world.

http://img.fotocommunity.com/Archite...-a19450024.jpg
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/display/19450024

Entrance:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ien-2.1.10.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_National_Library




http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...brary_pano.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_National_Library

The "Prunksaal"

http://www.cusoon.at/photos/11858882...bibliothek.jpg
http://www.cusoon.at/prunksaal-der-o...onalbibliothek

http://www.cusoon.at/photos/11858890...9ad198600a.jpg


http://www.panorama-photography.com/...1_ONB_02_B.jpg
http://www.panorama-photography.com/...y061124-135106


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...bibliothek.jpg


New modern reading room
http://www.vienna.at/2010/01/Lesesaa...ibliothek3.jpg
http://www.vienna.at/nationalbibliot...00115-01525349

http://www.kto-to.de/thumbs_0/wien-0131.jpg

Augustiner reading room
http://www.55plus-magazin.net/upload...erlesesaal.jpg

Codex Nov 12, 2011 2:44 PM

^^

Very beautiful indeed :)

Codex Nov 13, 2011 11:28 AM

National Art Library - Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), South Kensington -London

http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/n/national-art-library/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Art_Library

http://www.youtube.com/user/vamuseum

Video Link


Unripe (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unripe/...n/photostream/

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/...fa1366d5_b.jpg

PimPeters (flickr)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pimpete...n/photostream/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/...b42c6b6d_b.jpg

Reading Room - National Art Library - V&A London

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hpX5S9DVKC...0/IMG_6447.JPG

haligonia Nov 13, 2011 10:47 PM

The new Halifax Central Library:

http://www.archiscene.net/wp-content...tects-01th.jpg
Source

It's currently under construction, and slated to be completed in 2014:

http://www.archiscene.net/wp-content...tects-02th.jpg
Source

Codex Nov 14, 2011 12:37 PM

^^
Can't see the pics??

MolsonExport Nov 14, 2011 1:55 PM

Keep 'em coming. Love this thread!

HooverDam Nov 14, 2011 3:19 PM

Phoenix has a pretty strong tradition of cool, modern libraries. The City has done a very nice job on its recent branch libraries. While nothing in this post is as grand or ornate as most of this thread I hope it can be appreciated on its own merits.

Phoenix, AZ- Burton Barr Central Library

http://pics.librarything.com/picsize...4b41716b42.jpg
Librarything.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/...a3f664ce_z.jpg
Flickr

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/4...69909d5b_z.jpg
(Flickr)
The north window has these sails on the outside that move to control how much light is let in on a hot day, it also provides a nice view of Midtown PHX

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/2...eriormiche.jpg
Wandering Book Artists Blog

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/1536/dmabruder33.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7...105a09294f.jpg
(my photos)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/...4827e71228.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/...8693b871_z.jpg
(Flickr)

These supports that hold up the roof light up like candles on the summer solstice, its very cool.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/...aa2fc39f_z.jpg
(Flickr)
"The Crystal Canyon" is the main all glass elevator section of the middle of the building.

Phoenix- Desert Broom Branch Library

(all photos of this library from Flickr)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/...321b338a_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/...77ce20b3_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5194/...f09a1fd0_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3575/...bc97763a_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/...b8e695e5_z.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/...421afde7_z.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/...f3c84e29_z.jpg
(the interior isn't as exciting, its just a small branch library, but I figured I should include one interior)

Phoenix- Cesar Chavez Branch Library

http://c0003264.cdn2.cloudfiles.rack....com/cesar.jpg
LibraryJournal.com

http://www.metropolismag.com/pov/wp-.../chavezcgi.jpg
Metropolis Mag.com

http://www.masoncontractors.org/news...21100000-8.jpg
MasonContractors.com

http://www.masonrysystems.org/wp-con.../inp_90_lg.jpg
Masonrysystems.org

http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-...m-the-Lake.jpg
AECCafe.com

Scottsdale, AZ- Arabian Branch Library

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1226/...623_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5031/...0fe04e2a_z.jpg
(Fickr)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/...4ce_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/...c8a557da_z.jpg

This is the entrance! This library takes the typical library entrance; big, ornate, grand and turns it on its head. The entrance is almost hidden and you work your way through a shady man made slot canyon as you go into the library. I don't think this technique would work for a main Central Library but for this little branch library its a lot of fun.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/...402_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/...9d583eab_z.jpg
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/...66c_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/...7e0_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)
This is the kids reading area

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/...8c4_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/...38f30a08_z.jpg
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/...2c4_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/...e42_z.jpg?zz=1
(Flickr)

Hope you've enjoyed this mini tour of Modern Desert Library Architecture. :)

amor de cosmos Nov 14, 2011 5:29 PM

Quote:

Stuttgart’s Stadtbibliothek Library is a Glowing Rubik’s Cube-Inspired Haven for Readers
by Helen Morgan, 11/14/11
http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blog...-Young-Yi1.jpg

http://inhabitat.com/wp-content/blog...Young-Yi-4.jpg

http://inhabitat.com/stuttgarts-stad...n-for-readers/

Codex Nov 15, 2011 12:29 PM

Phoenix has some very innovative libraries and Stuttgart's new Library is also amazing. It's good to see such investment in libraries for future generations :)

Codex Nov 16, 2011 4:19 PM

As this is a Skyscraper and Architecture Forum, here is the Art Deco 'Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) building at Portland Place in London, home to 'The British Architectural Library' .

http://www.architecture.com/LibraryD...BALibrary.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_I...ish_Architects

http://www.youtube.com/user/ribaarchitecture?ob=5

Video Link


Video Link


http://www.whereandnow.com/media/ima...ries/Riba2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/...bdb9eed8_b.jpg
Royal Institute of British Architects - Portland Place, London by nick.garrod on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/...5cdfdea8_b.jpg
Royal Institute of British Architects - Portland Place, London by nick.garrod on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/...2d62b4a4_b.jpg
Royal Institute of British Architects - Portland Place, London by nick.garrod on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6196/...ac7d5b5e_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/timsidf... Place, London by sweetington on Flickr

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/...990f60e7_b.jpg
Royal Institute of British Architects - Portland Place, London by James.Stringer on Flickr





:)

Codex Nov 18, 2011 8:45 PM

New University of Aberdeen Library - Scotland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Aberdeen

Video Link


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/...54b86393_b.jpg
Source

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6001/...527747ed_b.jpg
Source

Codex Nov 18, 2011 9:38 PM

New City Library - Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK - People's expectations of public libraries have grown substantially in the past decade, as can be seen from modern libraries such as this one with it's 24 hour returns, creche, electronic self service, wifi, internet access, foreign films and books, pc/video games, music and a whole host of other services.

http://community.newcastle.gov.uk/libraries/

http://www.ryderarchitecture.com/#pr...ublicbuildings

Video Link


Pics Source - ricaird (flickr)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/...8392c7d5_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2628/...78aedd83_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3515/...65fb01ae_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2427/...b66b40f1_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/...21ff4948_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/...2d5d0e35_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/...bdee9e36_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/...c3bb75fb_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2532/...217cdd91_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/...09336076_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/...352fecf5_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/...62d1a1e3_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/...2242b3c7_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/...636997b5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/...c8675e51_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2607/...d0227b7a_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/...b95acf94_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/...66c0289d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/...6c0bd66c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/...78b927a2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/...c7c62c0f_b.jpg

Codex Nov 18, 2011 10:59 PM

Couple of other modern UK Public Libraries



Norfolk and Norwich Millenium Library - Norwich, England

http://hopkins.m6.artlogic.net/projects/1/78/

http://www.theforumnorwich.co.uk/exp...ennium-library

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/...fd4fd908_b.jpg
Source: The Forum Norwich (flickr)

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1384/1...664f56d0_b.jpg
Source: .Martin. (flickr)

Jubilee Library - Brighton, England

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilee_Library,_Brighton

http://www.bennettsassociates.com/portfolio/9904/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/...da2846bd_b.jpg
Source

Canada Water Library - South London

http://www.czwg.com/en/Work/Public%2...ater%20Library

http://www.canadawater.org/library.html

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6217/6...77c8d0eb_b.jpg
Source

Cardiff Central Library - Wales

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7929177.stm

http://www.bdp.com/Projects/By-Name/...ntral-Library/

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/.../RIBAaward.jpg
Source

MolsonExport Nov 21, 2011 1:44 PM

They are sure serious about books in the UK.

Codex Nov 21, 2011 3:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MolsonExport (Post 5487845)
They are sure serious about books in the UK.

I suppose the French have always seen themselves as culturally superior in terms of art, the Italians have their great opera, artists and music, whilst the Germans and Austrians great orchestras and composers.

In terms of the British and indeed Irish (whilst we had some fine artists and musical composers) it was really in the field of the written and spoken word that we excelled.

Britain is defined by it's great writers, poets such as Rabbie Burns (Scotland), Dylan Thomas (Wales) and of course famous literary figures such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, Dickens etc, whilst the Irish have had such literary greats as Keats, Yates, Shaw, Joyce, Wilde etc etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_literature

More recently authors such as C.S Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien, Roald Dahl, Philip Pullman and J. K. Rowling have had their work made in to lavish big screen productions.

Britain has also been home to a flourishing theatre culture, with London's West End being one of the great theatre centres of the world, along with New York's Broadway.

http://www.london-theatreland.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_theatre

There are more than 900 bookshops in London (twice as many as New York), ranging from quirky and accentric independent shops through to large chains, and from the very exclusive such as Hatchards through to the second hand book shops around Charing Cross Road,Camden and Blooomsbury through to the Southbank Centre Book Market.

As a country we have a vast array of literature festivals such as Hay, Edinburgh, Oxford, Cheltenham etc as well as world famous literary awards, such as the Man Booker prize and Orange prize, the winners usually being annouced under baited breath in some lavish ceremony broadcast on BBC2 every year, and reported across the news channels.

http://www.thewordtravels.com/literary-festivals.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/bestbookshops

http://themanbookerprize.com/

Of all the other European Nations, the other great literary nation are the Russians, who are also defined by many of their great authors and who have always had a fascination with and appreciation of great literature. It's quite ironic I suppose that Karl Marx wrote his Communist Manifesto in the British Library, although I suppose the Americans have also been heavily influenced by the written word and indeed British writers such as Thomas Paine 'The Rights of Man' and of course the moral and social commentary of Victorian England as presented by Charles Dickens. Whilst Hollywood has long held love affair with British writers, the latest Hollywood production of a much loved British book being Michael Morputgo's 'War Horse' which is being released on to the big screen shortly, in a lavish Steven Spielberg adaptation. The again films are just a modern day extension of the theatre and of plays, and much of what is presented on the big screen starts out in the form of a book or script.

http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/british...n-bestsellers/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010...s-about-russia

http://www.warhorsemovie.com/

Daunt Books which specialises in travel books - Marylebone High Street, London

http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6064/6...e06fb0f8_b.jpg
Source: FractalOn (flickr)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2386/2...fdc213fc_b.jpg
Source - Ewan Munro (flickr)

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/173/45...80a625cf_z.jpg
Source:Hannah Swithinbank (Swiv)-Flickr

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/183/45...3b1_z.jpg?zz=1
Source:Hannah Swithinbank (Swiv)-Flickr

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/184/45...a3759162_b.jpg
Source:Hannah Swithinbank (Swiv)-Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2073/2...560b4a7c_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1328/5...3bb7f81e_b.jpg
Source: liborus (flickr)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2200/2...f94f6999_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2278/2...c4562dbe_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3153/2...dc3bfb58_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3254/2...5dddb120_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1284/4...8a5f10a0_b.jpg
Source: RachelH (flickr)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2540/3...a1a41fa9_b.jpg
Source: George Oates (flickr)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2491/3...0c6be851_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5066/5...16ec26bc_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3362/4...caa112f4_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1286/5...4ae9f9d2_b.jpg
Source: curry15 having a long break (flickr)

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4118/4...d9d1409b_b.jpg
Source: Yukino Miyazawa (flickr)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3130/2...727b0c3d_b.jpg
Source: Kake Pugh (flickr)

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4079/4...db3ccd22_b.jpg
Source:Stephskimo (flickr)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5056/5...7f9e5480_b.jpg
Source: xpgomes5 (flickr)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3072/3...b376c476_b.jpg
Source:Tomasz Tom Kulbowski (flickr)

MolsonExport Nov 21, 2011 5:23 PM

^I'd love to while away a day at that bookstore.


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:49 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.