Please post pics (outside---and inside, if possible) of your city's central library

Hong Kong Central Library
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/images/hkpl.gif
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkcl/eng/pic/11.jpg
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkcl/pics/sevpro/012.jpg
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkcl/eng/pic/12.jpg
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkcl/pics/sevpro/15.jpg
http://www.hkpl.gov.hk/hkcl/pics/sevpro/20.jpg

This is going to be Singapore's new National Library. u/c now.

http://202.172.240.235/media/pict-building1.jpg

http://202.172.240.235/media/pict-building2.jpg

http://202.172.240.235/media/pict-building-interior.jpg

http://202.172.240.235/media/pict-building-interior2.jpg

http://202.172.240.235/media/pict-building4.jpg

Here is my city's main library, its also the county library for Lancahire:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5481/harris-b.jpg (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/5481/harris.html)

http://www.ronw25013.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/photos/harris.jpg (http://www.ronw25013.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/harris.htm)

Not as swanky as the other libraries shown but a very beautiful building and when originally built it was the 2nd biggest in the UK.

http://www.unisonlancs.org.uk/fireworks/layout_17.jpg

Seoul's main library ±¹¸³Áß¾Óµµ?°ü
http://msrv.yahoo.co.kr/enc3/image/84/27584.jpg
http://msrv.yahoo.co.kr/enc3/image/17/77917.jpg

It is really huge inside but i couldnt find any pics inside...sorry

Here are some pics of the National Library of Paris ( called Bibliotheque National de France), near where I am living :

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/602/1420biblio.jpg

http://tenplusone.inax.co.jp/archive/paris2/image/00099.jpg

http://tenplusone.inax.co.jp/archive/paris2/image/00100.jpg

http://tenplusone.inax.co.jp/archive/paris2/image/00103.jpg

NYPL:
http://bheller1.tripod.com/digital/NYPL-Feedingtime-2.jpg
couldn't find a decent photo

Buenos Aires : Biblioteca Nacional (1962) finished in 1992

http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/bs-as-arq/Fotosobras/Biblio2.jpg
http://www.argenprop.com.ar/Contenidos/Fotos/biblioteca_nacional.jpg

http://www.rascacielosbuenosaires.hpg.ig.com.br/Vistas%20Aereas/bigimages/Vista%20Aerea%20Bs%20As%20149.jpg

Madrid's main library (National Library of Spain):
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSosKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LS0pKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LS0oKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah

http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSspKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSgsKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSsrKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSguKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSssKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSstKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSsqKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSgvKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSgiKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSgjKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSgtKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSsiKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSsvKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSopKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah
http://www.photoways.com/partenaires/photoways/affiche_vignette.php?a=L2J3YWNnYCg6JjgkPj8+PyQjPX52d2w4LSorKS4tLisSD1VAUA==&blah

In Sydney, the main library is the State Library of NSW, but cannot borrow from it.

It contains several libraries within it including the reference library, mitchell library and dixon library

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/state_library.jpg

Los Angeles, CA
Central Library


http://www.matthewweathers.com/year2001/downtown_brian_jeff/library/los-angeles-library.jpg

http://www.matthewweathers.com/year2001/downtown_brian_jeff/library/inside_building.jpg

http://medg.lcs.mit.edu/people/langer/LALibrary.JPG

Vancouver City Public Library


http://www.fmsp.com/images/port_img_09a.jpg

http://images.webshots.com/ProThumbs/96/31996_wallpaper280.jpg

http://wilachun.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/libinside.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/784817.jpg

http://209.61.128.63/images/592
http://209.61.128.63/images/850
http://209.61.128.63/images/858

Our library is pretty old. Thai Tranditional Style building.
http://www.swu.ac.th/hu/lib-sci/ifla99/l11.jpg http://www.swu.ac.th/hu/lib-sci/ifla99/l13.jpg
http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/2000-2001-wt1/www/l_kelley/media/thaibldg.jpg

Originally posted by waterloo

Seoul's main library ±¹¸³Áß¾Óµµ?°ü
http://msrv.yahoo.co.kr/enc3/image/84/27584.jpg
http://msrv.yahoo.co.kr/enc3/image/17/77917.jpg

It is really huge inside but i couldnt find any pics inside...sorry

when was this built?

It looks like a brighter less brutal version of Birmingham's

National Library of Greece

http://www.culture.gr/2/21/213/21301n/00/ln01n203.jpg

http://www.culture.gr/2/21/213/21301n/00/mn01n204.jpg

Srry...couldn't find to many pics..:rant:

Old building of polish National Library:

http://www.ga.com.pl/foto12/04788x.jpg

http://www.thevisitor.pl/podstr/trasy/1_krasinski_d.jpg

New building:

http://www.biblioteka.edu.pl/pbw/lodz/bn1.jpg

http://www.bpbo.com.pl/images/p2.jpg

This on is in Boston..the second picture seems to be older than me, I guess I'll have to make some better, recent ones myself

http://www.leekennedy.com/Experience/RP/Bates.jpg

http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/kidder/kjpegs/C2022-032.jpg

In Borlänge:

http://www.infoma.org/tavlingar/T-10-01-02-stor.jpg

So many awesome libraries!

I think Bangkok needs a new state of the art library.. and more of them throughout the city, it's something I missed.

The new extension to The Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark is called The Black Diamond (for obvious reasons).

http://www.kifora.dk/Web/images/Det%20Kgl.%20Bibl%204,%20okt.%2002.JPG

http://www.kifora.dk/Web/images/Det%20Kgl.%20Bibl%202,%20okt.%2002.JPG

National library of Iceland - u/c from 1980 to 1998 ;)


http://www.rafhonnun.is/pics/verkefni/byggingar/landsbokasafn.jpg

http://www.habil.is/districts/107/p_thodarbokhladan.jpg

http://www.almenna.is/htm/starfsvid/verk/isl-thjodarbokhlada/%DEj%F3darb%F3khla%F0an.jpg

the "Beit Ariela" library in Tel Aviv :
Opened in 1977. it also hosts many lectures and other meetings and an occasional concert, a really interesting place .
http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/Hebrew/Culture/Ariela/ar.jpg
http://halemo.net/edoar/0002/betariela01.jpg

New York City public library

http://www.mikejs.com/pics/library.jpg

http://www.cs.swan.ac.uk/~csandrew/photos/newyork/library.jpg

http://www.gregbrume.net/albums/newyork/images/ny_public_library.jpg

http://www.lwalton.co.uk/gallery/newyork99/new_york_1999_9_039_2.jpg

http://www.pravongdesign.com/images/3d_rendering/mna_london_public_library.jpg

London Public Library, London Canada.

Originally posted by ClubaLibre

This on is in Boston..the second picture seems to be older than me, I guess I'll have to make some better, recent ones myself

http://www.leekennedy.com/Experience/RP/Bates.jpg

http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/kidder/kjpegs/C2022-032.jpg

Yep, I used to spend a lot of time there. Half the building is newer, and it's quite massive. I even still carry with me, my Boston Public Library Card for some reason.


Also, I haven't been to SLC since that library was a hole in the ground. I can't wait to check it out when I go back there.

These are images of the new British Library next to St Pancras in London
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/01b.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/17b.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/02b.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/08b.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/07b.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/popup/06b.jpg

These are of the old British library, now nestled in the new Great Court at the heart of the British Museum
http://******************/ajh/pictures.nsf/viewer/E9710AE4D9AFDCAE80256D7C004D2152/$FILE/PICT2527.jpg
http://emforster.de/pics/pics/reading_room_inside.jpg
The Library is the smooth circular building on the left
http://gallery.future-i.com/London/pic:british-museum-reading/full/unknown

This is the award winning Peckham library by Alsop in London
http://gilest.org/peckham/2.jpg
http://www.londonstills.com/i/ml0046_big.jpg
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2003/09/19/godwin_peckham3.jpg
http://www.arcaid.captureweb.co.uk/mtest3/Images/LowRes/9970-10-1-2.jpg
http://www.arcaid.captureweb.co.uk/mtest3/Images/LowRes/9970-20-1-2.jpg

This London School of Economics' new library by Norman Foster.
http://almlund.dk/foto/albums/userpics/normal_100-0353_IMG.JPG

Last but not least is my local library in Swiss Cottage, NW London. It is the rounded building on the bottom left of the picture and is being refurbished as part of a local regeration package that includes a reasonably tall building by Terry Farrel that you can see on the right.
http://freespace.virgin.net/rol.g1/eyesore2.jpg
http://www.mcaslan.co.uk/upload/767_2_1.jpg3dee427bacedf.jpg
http://www.mcaslan.co.uk/upload/767_2_3.jpg3dee427bb1cd8.jpg
http://www.mcaslan.co.uk/upload/767_2_2.jpg3dee427bb93d2.jpg
http://www.ribajournal.com/Journals/Builder_Group/Riba_Journal/August_2003/photos/books-etc-a.jpg
http://www.ribajournal.com/Journals/Builder_Group/Riba_Journal/August_2003/photos/books-etc-b.jpg
Designed by Sir Basil Spence it is now listed and considered a seminal building: also one loved by locals as just about the only nice and practical thing in the area.

Melbourne, Australia: State Library of Victoria

Constructed 1854, therefore having it's 150th Birthday! Architect: Joseph Reed.

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Public%20buildings/lib4929.jpg

Main Reading Room added 1913: at the time the reinforced concrete dome was the largest in the world:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Public%20buildings/lib5038.jpg

The reading room looks a lot better from the inside, but sorry, I don't have an interior photo at the moment!

The Library occupies an entire 5 acre (c. 2 hectare) city block, which formerly also housed the National Gallery of Victoria, the historical & science & technology museums. Website:
http://www.slv.viv.gov.au

http://www.nlg.gr/images/ebekalo1.gif

Dated 1888.

A few more of the British Library. It was about 10 years late and about 10 times over budget, we know how to do big projects ;)

http://www.photo.net/philg/digiphotos/200102-e10-london/british-library-lobby.half.jpg
http://www.photo.net/philg/digiphotos/200102-e10-london/british-library-courtyard.half.jpg
http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/england/london/britlibrary/gate.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/content/rarebooks.jpg
http://www.bl.uk/images/content/rear.jpg

More pictures of the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia:

Charles Latrobe Reading Room: The Dome:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Domes/libint0064.jpg

The walls:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Domes/libint0066.jpg

The other walls:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Domes/libint0065.jpg

The front of the place:

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Public%20buildings/lib4929.jpg

and the front of the place (again)

http://img78.photobucket.com/albums/v294/ooompaloompa123/Melbourne/Domes/lib5512.jpg

At the moment the main public library of Hamburg is located in the old main post office (only a part of the building is the library)
http://www.prax.net/praxis/images/prax_haus.gif


This is the state and university library of Hamburg:

roadside:
http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/rz3a035/staats1.jpg

The backside of it is 60´s brutal-style. The Library was nearly entirely destroyed in WWII.


The state archive of Hamburg:

http://www.akademie-der-kuenste.de/25jpub1.jpg

Houston's main public library

http://www.stockyard.com/albums/Skylines-Buildings/SKBU1020.jpg

Vancouver City Public Library


http://www.fmsp.com/images/port_img_09a.jpg

http://images.webshots.com/ProThumbs/96/31996_wallpaper280.jpg

http://wilachun.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/libinside.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/784817.jpg

Even thought I live In Vancouver, This is probably the best looking library I have ever seen in My lifem it looks like a reel of film.

Kansas City's main library and it's u/c parking garage
http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/construction/downtownlibraryback.jpghttp://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/construction/dtlibrary.jpg
http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/construction/librarygarage_041804.sized.jpg
http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/downtown/librarygarage_072004.jpg
http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/downtown/librarygaragemural2.jpg
I'm not sure, but I think they may still want to add the dome to the library building.
This is the rendering
http://www.kcskyscrapers.com/albums/renderings/downtownLibrary.jpg

houston...

http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/hpl/img0069.gif

Ill do a few for the UNited States that havent been mentioned:

Cleveland (Old neo-classical with modern:2001: addition)

REndering of addition: (long completed)
http://www.leedunnette.com/images/Gallary/Ext-Hand/HHPcleve.jpg

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/cleveland/loustokes.jpg

http://www.cpl.org/images/subject_dept/lsw_6.jpg

http://www.precisionh2o.com/calendar/02.jpg

http://www.jpw4.com/photoalbums/cleveland/images/library.jpg

Old part under renovation:
http://www.eslichwrecking.com/images/cpl1243a.jpg

LIBRATY OF CONGRESS: WAshington DC: Largest Library in the world.

http://www.abartwork.com/Pages/Photos/Washington/images/Washington%20Library%20of%20Congress%20PICT2401.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/Library_of_Congress_Jefferson_Building_opens_1893_DC_source_LS_d100_27.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/Library_of_Congress_Jefferson_Building_opens_1893_DC_source_LS_d100_04.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/PERRY_and_WEINERT_The_Court_of_Neptune_1897-1898_LOC_LS_d100_06.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/Library_of_Congress_Jefferson_Building_opens_1893_DC_source_LS_d100_18.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/Library_of_Congress_Jefferson_Building_opens_1893_DC_source_LS_d100_b.jpg

http://sandstead.com/images/washington/library/BLASHFIELD_Edwin_Evolution_of_Civilization_LOC_LS_d100_02.jpg

http://photodc.com/imagegallery/washington/images/library.congress.jpg

http://www.evergreene.com/restoratgallery/images/Library%20of%20Congress.jpg

http://photo.intensify.org/tourist/lib_of_congress.jpg

Seattle Public Library: Koolhas: DONE

http://www.seele-online.net/deutsch/bilder/projekte/seattle1.jpg

http://www.spl.lib.wa.us/lfa/central/constructioncamera/Images/steel/may2003/fromSW-600x570.jpg

http://www.spl.lib.wa.us/lfa/central/constructioncamera/Images/Curtainwall/030918_0002.jpg

Fairhaven, MA's central library is the Millicent Library
http://users.rcn.com/aldenrd/library-.jpg
This is the New Bedford Central Library
http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/SERVICES/LIBRARY/Library2.jpg

Latvian National Library should be completed in November 2008. But not started yet... The design is waiting for realisation since early 1990ies...
http://www.lnbaf.lv/lat/images/1482_lnb-eka.jpg
Designed by Latvian living in US - Gunars Birkerts

Btw. numerous libraries shown here are surprising!!! The one in Vancouver... mmm. And Library of Congress!!!

In Belgrade, currently there is huge ongoing renovation of all libraries. There are 3 big libraries - State, City and University.

Library of Serbia is located next to the park and temple of Saint Sava.
http://www.beograd.org.yu/english/upoznaj/kultumet/bibliot/narbib.jpg

Library of the city of Belgrade is located in Knez Mihailova street and is very small.
http://www.danas.co.yu/20030507/images/terazije_2.jpg

University Library-Svetozar Markovic is Carnegie Library.
http://www.unilib.bg.ac.yu/onama/virtuelna/images/zgrada.gif
http://www.unilib.bg.ac.yu/onama/virtuelna/images/studentska.jpg

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=2121469&size=lg


Sorry I'm new here, I don't know how to upload photos directly...can someone assist please?

now :
http://services.ville.montreal.qc.ca/rat/images_g/352-1.jpg

soon :

http://www.bnquebec.ca/fr/edifice/images/accueil_06.jpg

still under construction (thanks to LacasseS) :

http://www.sergelacasse.com/images/photos/MTLroof%20043.jpg

http://www.bnquebec.ca/fr/edifice/webalbums/album8/photos/image5.jpg

Brisbane - State Library of Queensland.

currently undergoing an upgrade to this -

http://www.millenniumarts.qld.gov.au/images/slides/Riverroom.jpg

http://www.millenniumarts.qld.gov.au/images/slides/Riverview.jpg

http://www.millenniumarts.qld.gov.au/images/slides/Viewalongriverwalk.jpg

Here are some pictures of the Richland County Main Library in Columbia, S.C. USA. It was named the National Library of the Year in 2001.

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib2.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib3.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib4.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib9.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib10.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib11.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib19.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib20.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib22.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib24.jpg

http://www.richland.lib.sc.us/photogallery/images/main_lib25.jpg

Lyon's main library (Bibliothèque municipale de la Part-Dieu)
Inaugurated in 1972, it is the biggest municipal library in France (27 300m²)
http://www.bm-lyon.fr/pratique/bibliotheques/photosbibs/bibPdnuit.jpg
http://www.mairie-lyon.fr/static/vdl/contenu/culture/bibliotheque_municip/z_25.jpg
http://img28.exs.cx/img28/9682/bibli1.jpg
http://img30.exs.cx/img30/1581/bibli2.jpg

Anyone got pics of Vienna's Library, it's meant to be the most beautiful in the world?

There's also the King's Library in the British Museum, Lenin Library in Moscow, an amazing mix of renaissance inspired Soviet architecture, and the new Berlin library - I think it's now beaten the British Library as the biggest single library (the Washington one is housed in different locations and buildings).

http://www.damagenoted.com/albums/philadelphia/library1.jpg


Main Library of Philadelphia, next to another building of exact design, the Family Courthouse, I believe they were modelled after two Parisian Buildings, anyone know which ones?

They are also near the Rodin Museum

Warsaw Library:

http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=274465&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=7bd0f4e9ae

http://buwcd.buw.uw.edu.pl/galeria/foto5.jpg

http://buwcd.buw.uw.edu.pl/galeria/foto19.jpg

http://www.autolider.pl/warszawa/Zdjecia/bibliotekauniwersytecka11.jpg

http://buwcd.buw.uw.edu.pl/galeria/gal1.jpg

http://www.autolider.pl/warszawa/Zdjecia/bibliotekauniwersytecka3.jpg

http://buwcd.buw.uw.edu.pl/galeria/filozof.jpg

http://www.damagenoted.com/albums/philadelphia/library1.jpg


Main Library of Philadelphia, next to another building of exact design, the Family Courthouse, I believe they were modelled after two Parisian Buildings, anyone know which ones?

They are also near the Rodin Museum

Looks like its the two on the North side of the Place de la Concorde. They are 18th century. One of them is Hotel de Crillon, which is one of the finest in the World, and I believe the other is the Automobile Club.

Anyone got pics of Vienna's Library, it's meant to be the most beautiful in the world?



http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/murphy/prunksaal.jpg

http://www.onb.ac.at/ausb/pro5/pt1/prunksaal.jpg

@Kampflamm
Is there museum now or is this still used as public library?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1385000/images/_1388913_lib300.jpg

and

http://library.muni.cz/obrazky/newbl.jpg

Lyon's main library (Bibliothèque municipale de la Part-Dieu)
Inaugurated in 1972, it is the biggest municipal library in France (27 300m²)

Are you sure ? :)
(Ok, may be, I didn't read "municipal", sorry)

The previous main library in Grenoble :
http://www.ville-grenoble.fr/grenoble/images/photo/054639.jpg

http://www.ville-grenoble.fr/grenoble/images/photo/077424.jpg


The "Bibliotheque Nationale de France - Site Francois Mitterand" :
http://photoenligne.free.fr/ParisXIII/D5760.jpg


The "Bibliotheque Nationale de France - Site Richelieu" in Paris :
http://arch.ou.edu/arch/2423/Chapter%2023/Bibliotheque%20Nationale.jpg

San Antonio Public Library, aka 'The Enchilada Library'

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=san+antonio+library/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=11j4p8k52/*-http%3A//www.libraries.army.mil/ali2001/sapl.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=san+antonio+library/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=11p485e07/*-http%3A//www.sanantoniocvb.com/images/Library-Hero.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=san+antonio+library/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=11i8kb852/*-http%3A//www.sant.ws/images/central_library.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=san+antonio+library/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=11rhdfkvo/*-http%3A//www.uia-architectes.org/image/JPEG/LibRleg1.jpg

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=san+antonio+library/v=2/SID=e/l=IVI/SIG=11rt4eteo/*-http%3A//www.uia-architectes.org/image/JPEG/LibRleg2.jpg

the pictures aren't showing up. can anyone help me?

the most important in Milano:

Biblioteca e Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
http://www.ambrosiana.it/eng/index.htm

History of the Library

Founded by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, this great Library is situated in Lombardy and was one of the first to be opened to the public, thanks to the gesture of its famous patron (1609). Borromeo had conceived it as a centre for study and culture: it was in fact his wish that other institutions, such as the College of Doctors, the Fine Arts Academy and the Gallery, should flourish side by side.

The Cardinal collected for his Library, which was named Ambrosiana after the patron saint of Milan, a large number of codices in Greek, Latin, Vulgar Latin and various Oriental languages. These manuscripts represent precious collections that come from religious institutions, such as the Benedictine Monastery at Bobbio, the Augustinian Convent of Santa Maria Incoronata and the library of the Capitolo Metropolitano of Milan, and also from such important private collections as those of Gian Vincenzo Pinelli, Francesco Ciceri and Cesare Rovida, all illustrious scholars and bibliophiles of the 16th century. Among the innumerable benefactors that contributed to enriching the Ambrosiana, are to be noted the names of Federico Fagnani, Pietro Custodi and Giacomo Mellerio, who, in the 19th century, bequeathed their extraordinary collections of books to the Library.

The vastness of the collections, the number and value of the codices all make the Ambrosiana undoubtedly one of the most important libraries in Italy and in the world. It has had many famous librarians such as the Milanese historian Giuseppe Ripamonti, Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Giuseppe Antonio Sassi, Cardinal Angelo Mai, Antonio Maria Ceriani, Cardinal Giovanni Mercati and Achille Ratti, who became Pope as Pius XI.

The Library has an historical, literary, religious and particularly retrospective classical nature, that is to say, it is dedicated to the study of the past. The Library is sustained by two Colleges, one of the Doctors - presided over by the Prefect - which superintends its cultural activity, and the Conservatori, which is in charge of its administration. Among the extremely rich collections of the Ambrosiana Library are the Arab and Oriental collections, which are exceptionally important. The glottological-dialectological library of Carlo Salvioni and the heraldic collection of Eugenio Casanovav are notable as well. Various palimpsests (with items of very great value, such as the only surviving fragments of the Vidularia by Plautus which date to the 5th century, and a part of the Gothic version of the Gospel compiled by the Arian bishop Ulfila) are to be found together with many splendidly illustrated manuscripts like the Libro d'ore Borromeo executed by Cristoforo De Predis, or the Gellio decorated and signed by Guglielmo Giraldi.

The most outstanding manuscripts are the Ilias picta of the 5th century, the famous Virgil with notes in the margin by Francesco Petrarca and illustrated by Simone Martini; the Giuseppe Flavio, in the Latin version, on papyrus; the Irish Codex; and the Provençal Codex. There are also various handwritten codices such as the De prospectiva pingendi by Piero della Francesca, the Aristotele with a commentary transcribed by Boccaccio, the Life of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro by Pietro Bembo and the handwritten texts by S. Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Tasso, Galileo, not to mention the entire collections of Parini and Cesare Beccaria.

Of great worth are many of the incunabula (including the rare edition of the Decameron by Cristoforo Valdarfer, Venice 1471) and the numerous editiones principes.
The Library also posseses many valuable bindings of both manuscripts and prints, one of which is actually in human skin. Among the notworthy special collections are those of the statutes and of editions by Aldo Manuzio, Giuseppe Comino and G.B. Bodoni, as well as the abundant collection of engravings and prints of about 10,000 items.

History of the Gallery (Pinacoteca)

The Gallery was first conceived in 1607, and came into being in 1618. In accordance with the intentions of its founder, Federico Borromeo, the Gallery was created to support and serve as a model for an art Academy aimed at the formation and education of aesthetic tastes, in conformity with the dictates of the Council of Trent.

The Academy was founded in 1621, and its first chairman was the painter Giovan Battista Crespi known as Cerano. This new institution flourished at the beginning, attracting such illustrious architects, painters and sculptors, as Biffi, Mangone, Morazzone, Daniele Crespi and Nebbia. Later, the art academy faltered, finally closing in 1776.

What did remain, however, and continued to develop, was the Quadreria (Picture Gallery), which Cardinal Federico described in his volume, the Musaeum of 1625. At that time, the Quadreria already included works by Raphael Leonardo, Luini, Titian, Caravaggio, and Brueghel, which formed the nucleus of the present-day collection. At the time of the donation in 1618, there were 250 paintings, including originals and about 30 copies. Now there are more than 1500 works on panel, canvas and copper. The following are part of this collection: the Resta Gallery, or portable gallery, so-called because it is bound in a very large volume of various masters headed by Raphael, the Codex Atlanticus by Leonardo with 1750 drawings of a technical-scientific nature, and the great cartoon by Raphael depicting the School of Athens (m. 7,48 x 2,74). Purchased by Cardinal Federico for the Academy, Raphael’s cartoon presents some small variation with respect to the fresco in the Vatican in the Stanza della Segnatura.

Of the most famous paintings in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana are the Portrait of a Musician by Leonardo, the Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio, Portrait of a Lady by Ambrogio de Predis, the Madonna of the Pavilion by Botticelli, the Presepe by Barocci, the Adoration of the Mag i, by Titian, the Holy Family by Luini, and Fire and Water by Brueghel.

Adjoining the Gallery is the Museo Settala, one of the first in Italy, founded by Canon Manfredo Settala (1600-1680) who entered the Ambrosiana in 1751. It is a kind of museum of the history of science with many curios from various periods.
In the course of the 19th century the Gallery underwent a series of reconstructions due mainly to the extension of the building and the damage caused by Allied bombing in 1943. Work carried out in 1905-6, under the auspices of Luca Beltrami, Antonio Grandi and Luigi Cavenaghi is to be noted as well as the reorganization carried out in 1963 by the architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni ending with the reconstruction undertaken between 1990 and 1997.

http://www.damagenoted.com/albums/philadelphia/library1.jpg


Main Library of Philadelphia, next to another building of exact design, the Family Courthouse, I believe they were modelled after two Parisian Buildings, anyone know which ones?

They are also near the Rodin Museum


Like says Philip Cronin, are you speaking about these 2 buildings ?
http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/visites/CE/photos/H_Obel_N.jpg
On the left "Hotel de Crillon" (Palace) AND the Automobile Club de France.
On the right "Hotel de la Marine" (headquarters of the French Navy).

PS : the USA embassy is just on the left of the Hotel de Crillon.

Malaysia National Library, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4563/klll8od.jpg

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/1858/klllll7ad.jpg

pictures taken 1994

View to slanted roof and main entrance

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52766/0/IAA14277.JPG

Stairway to main entrance

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52767/0/IAA14278.JPG

Corner of stepped pyramid roof

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52768/0/IAA14279.JPG

View to main entrace

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52769/0/IAA14280.JPG

Interior, main lobby

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52770/0/IAA14281.JPG

Interior, stairwell and skylight

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52771/0/IAA14282.JPG

Interior, library stack area

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52772/0/IAA14283.JPG

Glasswall around stairwell

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52773/0/IAA14284.JPG

Landscaped court

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52774/0/IAA14285.JPG

Outdoor benches and landscaping

http://archnet.org/mediadownloader/LibraryImagesBig/image/52775/0/IAA14286.JPG

http://www.krakow.pl/miasto/100/zdjecia/z_architektura/biblioteka_jagiellonska1.jpg
http://www3.uj.edu.pl/invest/BJ/work1_700x472.jpg
http://www.essystem.se/img/galeria/uj_biblioteka_2.jpg
This is the Jagiellonian Library (University Library) in Krakow.

warsaw librAry
http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=331474&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=113606a238
http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=331473&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=f8746eaecc
http://www.startbilder.de/einzelbild.php?id=331472&quality=80&maxpixel=800&identifier=185ff79967

http://www.pbase.com/cbusch/image/34989809.jpg

The legacy of late president Miterand, the sheer size of it is amazing. French architecture at its best.

Delft's main library (its the university library, so for me as a student that's the main library as well ;)):

http://ce.et.tudelft.nl/~gusa/Pics1/Library1_small.jpg

http://elektron.et.tudelft.nl/~pgroen30/Delft/Pictures/imgp0439.jpg

http://ce.et.tudelft.nl/~gusa/Pics1/Library_jhonny2_small.jpg

http://www.mines.edu/students/m/mgardine/tu%20library.JPG

http://ce.et.tudelft.nl/~gusa/Pics1/Library3.jpg

http://ce.et.tudelft.nl/~gusa/Pics1/Library4.jpg

@Kampflamm
Is there museum now or is this still used as public library?

It is still used as a library.

Pictures of the 'other' main library in Vienna:

http://www.come-together.at/Galerien/Fotos2/Architektur/images/Hauptbibliothek.jpg

http://members.aon.at/resetarits/fotogross/hauptbibliothek.jpg

http://www.wienplan.com/24online/n143/bilder/06a.jpg

And main libraries from my 'other' cities:

Central Library of Rotterdam:
http://www.bibliotheek.rotterdam.nl/inter/DBPics/centrale.gif

http://www.terracams.com.br/cronica10_biblioteca.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/archiguideeurope/images/RotterdamBibVBBaBo.jpg

University library of Utrecht:
http://www.uu.nl/content/123_152_03_kleintrappenhuis.jpg

http://utopia.ision.nl/users/utrarchi/2002/wiel-arets-bibliotheek-utrecht.jpg


Btw: the most beautiful recent building in Warsaw is the University Library for sure

Wow, Delft's is BEAUTIFUL!!! I was in the town but I didn't see the library, is it new.

The biggest: Zentralbibliothek of the Universität Zürich:
http://www-zb.unizh.ch/images/grund-bild/zbhauptbild.gif

The Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek by Santiago Calatrava:
http://www.rwi.unizh.ch/bibliothek/grafiken/calatrava/111.jpg
http://www.rwi.unizh.ch/bibliothek/grafiken/calatrava/94.jpg
http://www.rwi.unizh.ch/bibliothek/grafiken/calatrava/249.jpg

The Seattle and Rotterdam ones have got to be the worst eyesores so far.

In the latter case, the bright orange pipes going along the side of the building ruin it.

National Library Of Greece:

http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_1.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_2.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_3.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_4.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_5.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_6.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_7.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_8.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_9.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_10.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_11.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/is_pro_12.jpghttp://www.nlg.gr/images/a_pro_1.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_pro_8.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_pro_4.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_ken_1.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_ken_2.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_ken_13.jpg http://www.nlg.gr/images/a_ken_14.jpghttp://www.nlg.gr/images/a_ken_10.jpg

Chicago

http://www.december.com/places/chi/images/cpl.jpg

Cuiaba - Brazil main Library:

it is called Palacio da Instrução (Instruction Palace).

http://site.voila.fr/fabiobeltrao/pala_ins/02.jpg

http://site.voila.fr/fabiobeltrao/pala_ins/18.jpg

I hope you like it.


:okay:

This some of the public net libraries in Bogotá Colombia.


VIRGILIO BARCO



http://img136.exs.cx/img136/5996/mainbpsimon27sd.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/3341/bpsimon13av.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/1607/bpsimon24xv.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/5793/bpsimon35ig.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/4143/bpsimon55wf.jpg



PARQUE EL TUNAL



http://img136.exs.cx/img136/1931/mainbptunal23wl.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/641/bptunal55ea.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/9709/bptunal46dn.jpg



EL TINTAL



http://img136.exs.cx/img136/2982/mainbptintal7rw.jpg

http://img136.exs.cx/img136/8071/bptintal17cg.jpg

http://img203.exs.cx/img203/7154/bptintal22sp.jpg

http://img203.exs.cx/img203/6991/bptintal40xb.jpg

http://img203.exs.cx/img203/751/bptintal57cn.jpg


http://galeon.com/elzid/smiles/afro.gif http://galeon.com/elzid/smiles/cerveza.gif

Library of Sarawak , Malaysia

http://2.srv.fotopages.com/2/4127753.jpg

the interior...

http://2.srv.fotopages.com/2/4127756.jpg

Winnipeg Millenium Library (currently undergoing a major facelift)

http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/whatsnew/millennium/locations/images/locations01_jpg.jpg
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/whatsnew/millennium/feb05/images/feb05construction02_jpg.jpg
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/whatsnew/millennium/feb05/images/feb05construction05_jpg.jpg
renderings:
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/whatsnew/images/exterior1.jpg
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/whatsnew/images/exterior2.jpg
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/whatsnew/images/terracesup.jpg
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/whatsnew/images/terracesdown.jpg

Watch the construction progress video:
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/whatsnew/millennium/webcam.asp

City of Kita-Kyushu (Japan)

http://www.archi-map.net/~tks_design/jp_fukuoka/image/kmcl/kmcl01.jpg
http://www.archi-map.net/~tks_design/jp_fukuoka/image/kmcl/kmcl04.jpg
http://www.archi-map.net/~tks_design/jp_fukuoka/image/kmcl/kmcl02.jpg
http://www.archi-map.net/~tks_design/jp_fukuoka/image/kmcl/kmcl07.jpg
http://www.archi-map.net/~tks_design/jp_fukuoka/image/kmcl/kmcl10.jpg

The International Library Children's Literature, Tokyo (Japan)

http://homepage1.nifty.com/orionblue/photo/tosyo.jpg
http://www.tanacho.com/01company/images/tokyo02.jpg
http://www.ieij.or.jp/fukyubu/akari0302/images/20.jpg

City of Oita (Japan)

http://www.archi-map.net/~ats/oita/03new/02.jpg http://www.archi-map.net/~ats/oita/03new/03.jpg

http://www.archi-map.net/~ats/oita/03new/04.jpg http://www.archi-map.net/~ats/oita/03new/05.jpg

East Osaka Library, (Japan)
http://www.city.higashiosaka.osaka.jp/140/140030/image/lib.jpg

Kyoto National Library (Japan)
http://www.takenaka.co.jp/majorworks/expert/recreat/gif_b/03p28cf4.jpg
http://kenchiqoo.net/archives/gendai049-1.jpg

The Harris Library, Preston (will be moving to another historic building just a few metres away soon though)

http://www.code-hosted.co.uk/preston/files/imagelibrary/large/PCC015.jpg

Project of new university library in Split - Croatia, 8.600 m2, Capacity: 700 000 volumes.
Total costs: 15 million euros (20mill US$)

http://www.svkst.hr/nova/vani3.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/vani10.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/vani9.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/n3.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/n4.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/n5.jpg
http://www.svkst.hr/nova/n10.jpg

Croatian National Library in Zagreb - Holds over 3 million volumes, total cost over 400millUS$ in 1998.

http://img226.exs.cx/img226/3862/200483152741353564dj.jpg
http://www.nsk.hr/grafika/opcevijesti/meni/knjiznica.gif

http://www.nsk.hr

It is perhaps one of the most impressive national library's in Europe and by size it is certainly largest in central and eastern Europe, its maximum capacity is 5 million volumes and current collection is over 3.2 million.

Very nice new libraries. I like all of them. :)

http://wilachun.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/libinside.jpg

This library looks like a mall. ;)

This is Koldo Mitxelena Library, main library of the basque province of Gipuzkoa and its capital city Donostia-San Sebastian.

http://usuarios.lycos.es/xabierpagola/buenpastor8.jpg

http://usuarios.lycos.es/xabierpagola/buenpastor6.jpg

The image of what the National Library of Peru will look like, the building is almost finished. After its done it will be one of the most modern libraries of the region.

http://img37.echo.cx/img37/8185/bnp17vj.jpg

http://img37.echo.cx/img37/5089/bnp28ts.jpg

Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago:

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/warmemorials/images/HWLC.jpg
http://www.jamas.org/archives/photos/IMG_8406library.jpg
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/hwcpl/hwcpl1.jpg

This is a picture of the Central Library in Memphis

http://img10.echo.cx/img10/1467/mscpliccentrallibrary8iq.jpg

and this is a picture of the Main Library in Nashville

http://img10.echo.cx/img10/6739/nplmainlibrary3lr.jpg

http://www.ub.uu.se/hum/carol/images/carolhela.jpg
Carolina Rediviva, biggest in Scandinavia, but dont let the picture fool ya ;) the building got about 9 floors, 5 underground
http://www.bildmuseet.umu.se/tankensbilder/frames/bildspel/bild/9_12_3.jpg
http://www.uppsala.com/lokalt/bildbank/sevardhet_carolina/Dscn9313.jpg

Milwaukee Central Library photos:

www.rocket99.com/zoom/5598.html

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/librarylobby.jpg

http://www.uihlein-wilson.com/media/centlib.jpg

Glasgow's Mitchell Library:

Europe's largest public reference library has over one million volumes, including Celtic literature, the history of the city and probably the world's largest Robert Burns collection.

http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/

http://kokone.co.uk/places/scotland/glasgow/mitchell_library_image.jpg

http://www.intermac.co.uk/homepage/photographs/glasgow/mitchelllbrary.jpg

http://www.glasgowguide.org/ez/glasgow_mitchell2a.jpghttp://www.glasgowguide.org/ez/glasgow_mitchell2z.jpg

http://www.glasgowguide.org/ez/glasgow_mitchell3a.jpghttp://www.glasgowguide.org/ez/glasgow_mitchell3z.jpg

pics on Montreal's newly opened Library: The National Library of Quebec

http://lcn.canoe.com/archives/lcn/infos/regional/media/2001/07/20010712-172607-g.jpg
http://www.daoustlestage.com/Pages/04_Projets/01_Institutionnel/06_GBQ/JPEG/Big01.jpg

Its Interior:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/Ilovemtl2/b2.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/Ilovemtl2/b3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/Ilovemtl2/b1.jpg