Libraries

The entrance to a white building labeled Kantonsbibliothek with a wooden door under a portico. Bicycles are parked on either side of the entrance.

Kantonsbibliothek Thurgau

From classrooms to reading rooms: since 1912, the cantonal library in Frauenfeld occupies the former high school.
Exterior of a Modernist university campus showing a four-story rectangular building with a facade of alternating bands of windows and green metal panels. The building is topped with a two-story structure covered with a concrete openwork screen. The same screen is repeated in front of a low building to the right of the main structure, and on either side of its porte cochère, on which the words "Faculté de médecine" can be read. The word "Bibliothèque" is stencilled one letter at a time on the top windows. Students are show exiting the building on a paved plaza in front.

Bibliothèque de santé, Université de Strasbourg

The campus of the Strasbourg faculty of medicine signalled the postwar renaissance of a storied institution.
A symmetrical courtyard with a central statue and fountain, surrounded by neatly trimmed trees, leads to a yellow two-story building with arched windows, a clock, and a gabled roof under a partly cloudy sky.

Biblioteca dell’Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio

Thanks to a generous donor, this palace once welcomed the sick and the poor and now hosts a major research library.
A large, light yellow and orange building with multiple floors stands at the center, featuring a courtyard with outdoor seating, umbrellas, and parked motorcycles; hills and clear sky are visible in the background.

La Filanda, Mendrisio

From silk spinners to cash registers to 3D printers, this Southern Switzerland landmark has been reinventing itself for 150 years.
Interior of a contemporary library with curved white balconies, large windows allowing natural light, multiple floors with bookshelves, and people reading or working at tables on the lower level.

Surrey City Centre Library

The futuristic Surrey City Centre Library was designed by Bing Thom Architects and completed in 2011 as part of an ambitious plan to revitalize the area.
An interior view of a large hall with a high arched brick ceiling, a chandelier, a circular balcony, striped flooring, display booths, and several red and white banners hanging from the balcony.

Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht

A pivotal budget decision and growing awareness of adaptive reuse have transformed an architectural icon into a thriving public library.
Exterior of a small Neoclassical library. It is a symmetrical, single-story brick building. The entrance door is framed by a pediment supported by four columns on top of a flight of stairs. The words "Public Library, erected 1906" are engraved on the pediment. A fan window above the door bears the words "Yorkville branch, 22 Yorkville Avenue". In front of the library, a modern sign reads "tpl: Toronto Public Library". There is snow on the ground and the sky is overcast.

Yorkville Library, Toronto

This elegant Carnegie building is the oldest library in Toronto.
A spacious former industrial building interior with high arched ceilings, glass walls, and open walkways. A central staircase leads to upper levels, with workspaces and offices visible on both sides. The area is well-lit and empty.

Bibliothèque UHA La Fonderie, Mulhouse

From heavy industry to a foundry of ideas, this symbol of the "French Manchester" is now a bustling university campus.
The image shows the modern Library of Birmingham with a gold-topped upper floor and decorative circular metalwork on its facade. People are gathered outside and on the entrance plaza under a partly cloudy sky.

The Library of Birmingham

The Library of Birmingham's intricate facade aims to keep it visually striking and avoid the fate of its predecessor, a Brutalist icon since demolished.
Interior of a contemporary library with white walls. A person walks up a staircase on the left, while another stands by a railing on the upper level. The lower level has boxes of CDs and DVDs. Light comes from a square window high up the wall.

Stadtbibliothek Heidenheim

In shape and function, this library acts as a force of cohesion.
A contemporary, multilevel library with curved balconies and tall white columns. Filled bookshelves and colourful seats contrast against the grey and white surroundings. Natural light comes from large windows at the back.

Le Studium, Strasbourg

This undulating shape marks the entrance to a landmark postwar campus.
A 1980s, multi-story building with gabled roofs and large windows is situated on a corner. It features a cylindrical glass stairwell on the right. The foreground includes a cobblestone area with bike racks, signs, and street lamps. Clear blue sky above.

Stadtbibliothek Aalen

The intriguing and complex shapes of the Torhaus in Aalen house a bright and efficient library.
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