Temples of Books: Magnificent Libraries Around the World ^Sale

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Libraries are so much more than collections of books. They are archives of knowledge, spaces of study, sources of inspiration and connection. Among the world’s most universal and democratic places, they are also outstanding icons of architecture that represent the societies that built them. Temples of Books celebrates the world’s oldest and grandest shrines to the written word, as well as new and tiny ones: from baroque palaces to micro-libraries made of recycled plastics, and the unlikely ones in between. Looking at the diverse architecture of global libraries throughout the ages, "Temples of Books" goes further and explores the very idea of libraries themselves. Today, the almost 2,000-year-old St. Catherine’s Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai, is digitizing its historical manuscripts in order to make these rare artifacts accessible to anyone who might be interested. Mexico’s Biblioteca Vasconcelos draws in visitors with appealing add-on features revolving around art, culture, and its botanic garden. The Uncensored Library exists exclusively online and makes the censored works of brave journalists from all over the world freely accessible.

Materials
Full color, hardcover, linen quarter-binding, stitch bound, 304 pages

Dimensions
9 1/2 x 11 3/4 inches. 

Image credits: Temples of Books, gestalten, 2022