Today’s college students can do just about any research they need from the confines of their unmade beds and messy dorm rooms. The internet, for better or for worse, has seen to that. However, when due dates approach or all-nighters become necessary, pupils all across the country head to that most hallowed of educational buildings — the college library. The United States has had something of a love affair with beautiful college campuses, with libraries in particular becoming architectural highlights. Ultra-wealthy philanthropists donated books, money, and more to help educate America, especially in the late 19th century. Consequently, the resulting libraries often stand out as the most impressive structures on college campuses, resembling pantheons, cathedrals, and even palaces. Therefore, no matter how unnecessary physical manuscripts or old print editions become, people will still go to the library. After all, they were built to inspire. Here is a selection of some of the most gorgeous college libraries in the United States.
Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth’s beautiful Baker-Berry Library looks pretty simple and straightforward from the outside. Inside, it’s anything but. Behind those red-brick walls, students can admire a fresco (and National Historic Landmark) by José Clemente Orozco, which adorns a wall in the basement reading room of the original Baker portion of the library. There’s also a grand reading room with old wood and plush chairs overlooking the college green. Of course, the library has plenty of modern features, particularly in the Berry addition which was completed in 2002. Perhaps the best part is the adjacent, super cozy Sanborn Library, where tea and cookies are served.
Harper Memorial Library at the University of Chicago
Built in 1912, the William Rainey Harper Memorial Library (named for the school’s first president) drew inspiration from the grand architecture at Cambridge and Oxford, featuring two distinct towers. This building itself doesn’t circulate any books but instead functions as an extraordinarily grand study space.
Klarchek Information Commons at Loyola University Chicago
By far the most modern design featured on this list, Klarchek emphasizes extraordinary views it affords students rather than exterior beauty. From its all-glass facade, Loyola scholars can enjoy a sweeping panorama of Lake Michigan.
Cook Legal Research Library at the University of Michigan Law School
This 1931 masterpiece at the University of Michigan is nothing short of breathtaking. The English-Gothic hall resembles a cathedral, complete with towers and stained-glass windows, which contain the seals of nearly 200 institutions of higher education around the world (the school even included rival Ohio State). Some believe the Cook Library drew inspiration from the University of Chicago’s Harper Library.
George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University
You might not immediately think that Baltimore, Maryland would house one of the most beautiful interiors in the world, yet there it is: The George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins University. Built in 1866, this skylight-lit, cast-iron-stacked, black-and-white-marbled, neo-Greco building is a public treasure.
Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania
Also known as the Furness Library, this red gem at first glance looks like a terra-cotta castle on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus. The exterior, made of sandstone and brick, is just the beginning. The interior of this National Historic Place is a stunning collage of towering arches, natural light, and gleaming stone.
Clark Library at the University of California, Los Angeles
Though it’s not technically on the main UCLA campus and is actually closer to crosstown rival USC, the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library is a UCLA property. Donated by William Andrews Clark, Jr. in memory of his father, the brick building is a hybrid of Italian and English styles and contains, among other things, the world’s largest collection of books by and about Oscar Wilde.
Fleet Library at the Rhode Island School of Design
The only design school on this list didn’t actually design its library building; instead, RISD repurposed a grand old bank building in Providence when it needed more space. Nevertheless, the results are magnificent, with the main room featuring imposing pillars and a hanging Grand Central-esque clock. Today, the art-focused library sits below several floors of student housing, providing easy access for students.
Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington
The entire University of Washington campus is underrated in terms of beauty. With expert landscaping and stunning architecture, the Suzzallo Library stands out with its church-like design and a curving Grand Staircase that invites exploration.
Riggs Library at Georgetown University
Riggs was Georgetown’s primary library from 1891 until 1970, and is one of the few largely cast-iron libraries still remaining in America. Today, it’s primarily used for special events rather than student services, serving as a testament to the grandeur of academic libraries.
Linderman Library at Lehigh University
It’s tough to argue against this one: with its gleaming wood floors flanked by half rings of cast-iron stacks, and crowned by a stained-glass skylight, Lehigh’s Linderman Library’s Rotunda is one of the finest among smaller universities. This Victorian structure has undergone several renovations while maintaining its vibrant beauty.
