Seinäjoki Library, Seinäjoki, Finland. All images courtesy of Gestalten, shared with permission
In the U.S., libraries have increasingly been as part of a movement to impose unjust book bans and protest diversity and inclusion efforts. Although the public institutions are sites of contention at the moment, they’ve historically functioned as beacons of knowledge and democracy, spaces that are free and open to all.
A recent book published by returns to the fundamental beauty and communal nature of libraries, traveling the globe to visit some of the most alluring places. Written by , celebrates the stunning architecture and quietude associated with wandering the stacks. From the exuberant style of Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura in Rio de Janeiro to the modern concrete-and-wood structure of Phillips Exeter Academy Library, the volume encompasses a vast range of aesthetics and eras across more than 40 physical and virtual locations on six continents.
Positioning these spaces as intellectual havens, Temples of Books highlights their wide array of offerings, including botanic gardens, archival repositories, and of course, room to read. “As an institution that can curate knowledge, scrutinize the status quo, and encourage education, the library is more important today than ever,” a statement says. “This responsibility is only growing as the freedom to publish on all manner of channels increases.”
Temples of Books is available now on . (via )
Cuypersbibliotheek, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Real Gabinete Portugues de Leitura, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Library of Muyinga, Muyinga, Burundi
Phillips Exeter Academy Library, Exeter
George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland
Bibliothèque du Sénat, Paris, France
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article appeared first on .
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