In honor of International Literacy Day, which was last Saturday, September 8, I’m writing a post on the world’s most beautiful libraries because I’m convinced that children (and adults) everywhere are just one great book away from being fans of reading. That book that speaks to them is like a key opening a door into untold worlds. The only difficulty is finding that key. But if anything can inspire future readers, surely one of these beautiful libraries would do it.

Yes, I do tend towards the old, grand architecture (no modern libraries for me). If the library from the Disney Beauty and the Beast existed, that would totally be on my list. So, in no particular order:

1. Wiblingen Monastery Library in Ulm, Germany

   

2. Admont Abbey Library in Admont, Austria

   

3. Vatican Library in the Vatican City

   

4. Sainte-Geneviève Library in Paris, France

   

5. Abbey Library of Saint Gall in St. Gallen, Switzerland

   

6. Bodleian Library of Oxford University in Oxford, England

   

7. Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland

   

8. George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland

   

9. Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

   

10. New York Public Library in New York, New York

    

    Have you been to any of these libraries? What are your favorites?