The University Library is the most famous building of KU Leuven Libraries (Leuven, Belgium). The first stone was laid in 1921, to replace the first university library which was burnt down during the First World War. The new library opened its doors to readers in 1928. It was itself partly destroyed by fire during the…
Category: historic library
World of the Book: State Library of Victoria permanent exhibition
A Library Planet post by Fiona Kells Established in 1854, barely 20 years after the city of Melbourne was founded, the State Library of Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and one of the world’s first free libraries. (See Jes Layton’s 2019 Library Planet post on the State Library of Victoria for more information.) A…
A temple of knowledge and wisdom – The National and University Library of Ljubljana
Written by Joachim Hassel. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ During our holiday in Slovenia in July 2019 we stayed for a couple of days in the capital Ljubljana. This is a really nice, atmospheric and lively city worth visiting. Right in the city center and only a short way back from…
Suzzallo Library, Washington, USA – a spectactular place for a snack or study
Written by Hanna Marie Roseen For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ Many people are drawn to Suzzallo for its beautiful reading room. It is indeed wonderful and is honestly the visual highlight of the library. The rest of the library is rather utilitarian and not much to look at compared to…
Melbourne Athenaeum Library, Australia – a library littered with ghosts of the past
Written by Kirby Fenwick For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ Athenaeum Library Melbourne wouldn’t be complete if it didn’t attempt to wade into the history of a library that has existed for more than one hundred and seventy-five years. A library that sits above the street, a quiet place where a…
Copenhagen City Hall Library – a hidden little pearl in the buzzing city
Written by Library Planet editor Christian Lauersen, director of Libraries and Citizen Services in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark. For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanetnet.wordpress.com/contribute/ In September 2018 a wonderful little secret of Copenhagen became accessible to the public; The City Hall opened its library to everyone. The City Hall is a – to Danish standards…
National Library of Austria – the smell of knowledge, history, grandeur and opulence
Written by Carla Louca For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ My husband and I went to Vienna for the first time on Friday, and we only had enough money to pay for one attraction – naturally, we chose the Austrian National Library. WHAT A PLACE! It is celebrating 650 years of…
Beng Mealea – the ancient Lotus Pond Library
Written by Rhiannon Mijovic For how to contribute to Library Planet look here: https://libraryplanet.net/contribute/ I am public library professional with a passion for travel and a love of exploring all manner of libraries upon those travels. So, imagine both my surprise and delight upon discovering the ruins of Beng Mealea contain a library. Beng Mealea…
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