For seekers of knowledge, libraries are akin to the sacred. Not only do they contain vast reserves of information, but they’re also totally free to the public. When built on a large scale, public libraries become even more mind-blowing — some are home to collections that soar into the millions. Here’s a look at some of the world’s largest libraries, according to data from each library’s official website, and the treasures that are stored inside.
National Library of France – Paris, France
The National Library of France, or the BnF for short, was established in the 14th century, when King Charles V decided to found a royal library within the Louvre Palace. Since then, the BnF has amassed a collection totaling up to 40 million books and other treasures. The library is located at the Richelieu historical site in Paris, which is also home to a museum with multiple exhibits that range from antiquity to present day. Of the museum’s many impressive rooms, the Mazarin Gallery is a true highlight, showcasing a classic Baroque gallery with painted ceilings and historic artwork.
The library’s collections range from ancient coins and gems to a massive digital library known as the Gallica, the oldest and largest digital library in the world. But the BnF’s pièce de résistance is its impressive Oval Room, a circular-shaped room that contains 20,000 books, a massive skylight, and plenty of seating.
National Diet Library – Tokyo, Japan
No, the National Diet Library is not a collection devoted to losing weight. In Japan, the National Diet is the national legislature, equivalent to the U.K. Parliament or U.S. Congress. Its library was created to keep Japan’s leaders informed on policy research, providing all the necessary information needed to complete government duties. After being established in 1948, the library amassed the largest collection in the country. It has 47 million books, publications, DVDs, and maps, due to national law dictating that anything published in the country must be submitted to the library.
Today, the National Diet Library is divided into two locations. The Tokyo Main Library houses the political and legislative materials used by Japan’s lawmakers, while the branch in Kyoto prefecture is a large-scale research library, home to digital archives and space to learn, read, and perform research.
New York Public Library – New York, New York
For New Yorkers, the New York Public Library is a beloved city institution. Guarded by the library’s famous feline mascots, Patience and Fortitude, the flagship location is a bustling city landmark, thanks in large part to the Rose Main Reading Room, with its soaring ceilings, rows of books, and plentiful seating. When the library opened in 1911, its collection totaled 1 million items; today the collection ventures upwards of 50 million.
Home to unique pieces of history, NYPL contains the original stuffed animals that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, Virginia Woolf’s diaries (and her cane), and a draft of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. For lovers of literature, the library’s Berg Collection includes manuscripts from the archives of legendary American authors, including Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, and Jack Kerouac.
Shanghai Library – Shanghai, China
The largest public library in China is also one of the tallest libraries in the world. The Shanghai Library soars to nearly 350 feet high and is home to a collection of 58 million items. Since merging with the Shanghai Institute of Scientific and Technical Information (ISTIS) in 1995, it has served as a dual library and research center. Visitors can find quiet reading rooms, extensive research facilities, large conference halls, and music rooms spread across the library’s many floors.
The fourth floor contains a collection of foreign-language publications, including books in English. Otherwise, you can expect a wide array of Chinese newspapers, journals, literature, and ancient Chinese texts, including one that dates back 1,400 years. The library is also a depository for Chinese genealogy, with 18,000 titles that delineate the origin of 342 family names.
British Library – London, U.K.
Ranging from books and manuscripts to sound recordings and patents, the British Library has a collection of more than 170 million items. In addition to your everyday publications, the library’s collections venture into the antique, rare, and precious. This includes the Magna Carta (dating back to 1215), original manuscripts by Jane Austen and William Shakespeare, notebooks that once belonged to Leonardo da Vinci, and handwritten lyrics by the Beatles.
The collections are so massive that the displays can’t cover it — the library has designed an underground storage system to house its excess items. Don’t miss the King’s Library Tower, a glass bookcase that rises six stories and contains 65,000 books collected by King George III over the course of 57 years.
Library of Congress – Washington, D.C.
After the original congressional library burned down during the War of 1812, the Library of Congress was reborn, thanks in large part to Thomas Jefferson. To replace the collection lost to the fire, Jefferson sold his personal library to Congress, trading 6,487 books for $23,950. From these humble beginnings, the library’s collection has grown to 178 million items today.
Not only is the Library of Congress the world’s largest law library, but it’s also home to the official copyright office of the United States. Any piece of work that has been registered for copyright is included in the library’s archives, with books, movies, music, architectural designs, and software all part of the library’s ever-growing collection.
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