26 Stunning University Libraries Around the World You Need to See

A university library is more often associated with wall-to-wall carpeting, bad fluorescent lighting, and decades-old pilled sofas than with eye-catching design by some of the world’s most renowned architects. That said, there are more than a few university libraries with impressive design elements—whether it’s original 15th-century Tudor ceilings or cast iron balconies—that are making students actually want to spend a few late nights in the stacks.

For centuries, some academic institutions have spent a good deal of resources to ensure their libraries inspire their students. At the University of Chicago, for example, school officials tapped world-renowned German American architect Helmut Jahn to construct their newest library. Others, namely in the United Kingdom, are much older, reflecting the styles in vogue when they were built. From the traditional-style libraries at Queen’s College, at Oxford University, to the sleek modern structure at Loyola University in Chicago, AD surveys 26 of the most beautiful college libraries from around the world.