If you’re an avid fan of words and captivating stories, the USA is a goldmine of libraries that’ll have you grinning like a kid in a candy store.
With 50 states to explore, the United States has some beautiful libraries, and we’ve rounded up the ones you’ve got to see the next time you head across the pond.
New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York
This iconic library is tucked right in the heart of New York, between Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Not only does it look glorious from the outside, but the true charm is found inside, where pristine marble covers the surface. There’s also a well-appointed reading room, a gift shop, a café that serves delicious coffee, and a number of impressive exhibits.
Among its literary highlights is a vast archive centered on the humanities and social sciences, along with a curated display of rare books.
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Address: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday, Thursday to Saturday: 10AM - 6PM
- Tuesday & Wednesday: 10AM - 8PM
- Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Iowa State Library, Iowa
Set in the State Capitol building, the Iowa State Library is a true visual work of art, thanks to its unique Victorian-themed design elements, including spiral staircases and floor-to-ceiling features. Among the collection are well over 100,000 titles, with a strong focus on legal books, plus a solid selection of non-fiction reads.
Even though it’s located inside the Capitol, visitors are welcome to swing by for a peek whenever the building is open, which is usually Monday through Saturday.
Address: Miller Bldg, Ola Babcock Miller Building, 1112 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50319, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday Sunday: Closed
University of Michigan Law Library, Chicago
The lavish, chandelier-lit University of Michigan Law Library garners a lot of attention for its resemblance to Hogwarts, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. While it looks pretty any time of day, its Medieval Gothic features really stand out after dark, so try to plan your visit around then.
Besides its unmatched architectural elegance, the library also boasts a vast legal collection, particularly texts that explore the relationship between laws and society, along with materials related to legislation in the state of Michigan and throughout the United States.
Address: Legal Research Building, 801 Monroe St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8AM - 6PM
- Saturday Sunday: Closed
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Connecticut
If rare covers are your jam, Connecticut’s Beinecke Library is about to become your new favorite spot. Hailed as one of the world’s biggest libraries dedicated solely to antique books and manuscripts, the complex has space to hold up to 180,000 volumes upstairs and 600,000 downstairs.
The library’s got a cool blend of Neo-classical and Gothic elements, plus plenty of book stacks, a reading room, workspaces, and an expansive exhibit area.
Address: 121 Wall St, New Haven, CT 06511, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9AM - 7PM
- Wednesday: 10AM - 7PM
- Saturday Sunday: 12PM - 5PM
Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Every bibliophile has heard of the Library of Congress in DC on Capitol Hill. It’s the biggest library on the planet and serves as the research center for the United States Congress. Just to put the size of this place into perspective, around 2 million items are added to the collection every year.
Established in 1800, despite its long history, it has managed to retain its remarkable old-world charm while adding some creative touches. Today, it spans three buildings, but the most impressive is the one with the main reading room, which has eight massive marble columns, 16 bronze statues, and a grand domed mural.
Address: 101 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20540, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday & Sunday: Closed
- Tuesday,Wednesday, Friday & Saturday: 10AM - 5PM
- Thursday: 10AM - 8PM
George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland
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Walking inside the George Peabody Library in Baltimore may have you feeling like you’ve just stepped into a multi-layered palace, with its white-columned floors and open glass ceiling. The library itself serves as a research center within the Johns Hopkins University educational system and has been in operation since 1857.
While the focus here is on covers from the 19th century, the collection comprises approximately 300,000 volumes, encompassing a wide range of topics, including travel, science, and geography.
Address: 17 E Mt Vernon Pl, Baltimore, MD 21202, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 10AM - 5PM
- Friday & Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: 11AM - 5PM
Los Angeles Central Library, California
Even non-readers who visit LA find themselves mesmerized by the city’s 8-story Central Library, which is the third largest in America, with over 10 million volumes covering just about every topic you can think of, from fiction to history.
Most visitors set their sights on the Rotunda, and it’s easy to see why: incredibly detailed murals on every corner, showcasing the best of California’s history, while the zodiac chandelier hangs delicately from above.
Address: 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 10AM - 8PM
- Friday & Saturday: 9:30AM - 5:30PM
- Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Main (Oakland), Pennsylvania
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh delivers full access to a wealth of both current and historical reads, and the aesthetics are just as remarkable as the archive. Picture winding marble staircases and a breathtaking reading room crowned with an arched ceiling featuring intricate details.
Over the years, the materials at the Carnegie Library have amassed more than 2.5 million pieces, with something for every generation. Teens can enjoy a wealth of graphic novels, while adults have a lovely mix of technology, sociology, and musical options to choose from.
Address: Carnegie Museum & Library, 4400 Forbes Ave Carnegie Lecture Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:30AM - 8PM
- Friday to Sunday: 9:30AM - 5PM
Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Heights Branch, New York
Situated in the heart of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, the Brooklyn Public Library’s Brooklyn Heights Branch exudes a trendy atmosphere with its bright and airy interior spanning over 26,000 square feet, complete with a game room, a children’s area, and office spaces.
A relatively new addition to the Brooklyn Public Library system, this branch opened in 2022 and is now the second largest in the system. Three well-appointed floors house the remarkable collection, along with coworking spaces and a cozy reading zone for young readers.
Address: 286 Cadman Plz W, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10AM - 6PM
- Tuesday: 1PM - 8PM
- Friday: 10AM - 6PM
- Saturday: 10AM - 5PM
- Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Indianapolis Central Library, Indiana
Back in 1917, when Paul Cret designed the Indianapolis Central Library, no one guessed it would become one of the finest architectural masterpieces in the country. But hey, here we are today with a marvelous contemporary library following a Greek Doric style, showcasing an Indiana limestone façade wedged onto a Vermont marble foundation. Not to forget the Simon Reading Room with its sleek white oak walls.
No wonder so many couples pick this library for their weddings, but let’s stick to literature. There are some really unique aspects to this library’s inventory worth noting, like a segment dedicated to Black literature and culture and a historic newspaper section.
Address: 40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday & Tuesday: 10AM - 8PM
- Wednesday & Thursday: 10AM - 6PM
- Friday & Saturday: 10AM - 5PM
- Sunday: 1PM - 5PM
Boston Central Library, Boston, Massachusetts
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The Boston Central Library will go down in history as the first municipal library in the country and the first to open a free children’s section. It spans two buildings: the first being prominent for its artistic exhibits from Daniel Chester French and its lavish layout, while the second got a recent makeover in 2016 and now feels ultra-modern with a broadcast center and creativity zone.
Bookworms will find a treasure trove of items at the Boston Central Library, including covers, maps, and manuscripts, as well as many adult fiction and non-fiction titles.
Address: 700 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 9AM - 8PM
- Friday & Saturday: 9AM - 5PM
- Sunday: 11AM - 5PM
Providence Athenæum (Providence, RI)
Somewhat exclusive compared to some of the other libraries on this list, the Providence Athenæum is a member-funded location that has been operating for just under 200 years in Rhode Island. Characterized by its multiple layers loaded with books and standalone Greek-like sculptures, you won’t be able to resist snapping a photo of the interior.
A bunch of topics are covered in the Providence Athenæum’s archive, like natural sciences, biographies, and art. However, only paying members are allowed to borrow books from the library, so you’ll only be able to look, but not touch.
Address: 251 Benefit St, Providence, RI 02903, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday & Sunday: Closed
- Tuesday to Friday: 10AM - 6PM
- Saturday: 10AM - 2PM
William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library (Columbus, OH, Ohio State University)
How lucky are the students of Ohio State University to have been gifted with a location as gorgeous as the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library? Some notable features of its layout are the several spacious floors with views stretching from one side to the other and a recently updated western side.
Being the largest library on campus, you can bet you’ll come across a lot of unique books here, including old manuscripts, antique covers, and journals. Estimates suggest there are around 1.5 million items on-site, so give yourself plenty of time for a browse; you’re bound to have a field day.
Address: 1858 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:30AM - 8PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 11AM - 6PM
San Francisco Public Library in San Francisco, California
Easily recognized for its granite white front as you stroll down Grove Street, the San Francisco Public Library takes beauty to a new level inside and out. Bright natural light fills the five-story central atrium, where staircases curve beside a wall showcasing some of the most celebrated authors.
It’s fair to say that the San Francisco Public Library’s catalog of books is massive, reaching 3.7 million with topics ranging from historical fiction to juvenile fiction.
Address: 100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday: 9AM - 6PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9AM - 8PM
- Friday & Sunday: 12PM - 6PM
- Saturday: 10AM - 6PM
Hoose Library of Philosophy
Housed within the University of Southern California, the Hoose Library of Philosophy makes a statement with its grand hallways decked out with chandeliers suspended over reading tables and stained glass windows. It also contains a diverse assortment of rare books, manuscripts, historical documents, and artworks, as well as several special collections.
In the outer grounds, you’ll stumble upon a quaint courtyard with a lovely little fountain, as well as get a closer look at the ornate detailing on the outer building.
Address: Mudd Hall, 3709 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9AM - 4:45PM
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
The Morgan Library & Museum (New York, NY)
The Morgan Library & Museum originally belonged to the famous banker J. P. Morgan but has since become a national treasure. Serving as both a museum and a research library, it is situated within a Renaissance-style palazzo, which comprises three rooms. The building underwent a makeover in 2006, adding new spaces, including a restaurant, reading room, shop, and more.
Unlike most libraries, this one has a hefty $25 entry fee due to its historical significance and an intriguing mix of books, with some works dating back to the 20th century.
Address: 225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday,Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday: 10:30AM - 5PM
- Friday: 10:30AM - 7PM
Seattle Public Library
The Seattle Public Library started out as a small reading room in Pioneer Square but has since expanded into 27 sites with around one million materials. The one that steals the spotlight is its central location, which is hard to miss because of its contemporary, glass-structured 11-floor building. It holds a 275-seat auditorium, a computer lab, and reading centers for both adults and kids.
In front of the central library, there’s also a little bookstore where you can buy some books for a few dollars, a game-changer for traveling readers like yourself.
Address: 1000 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday, Friday to Sunday: 10AM - 6PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 10AM - 8PM
University Club of New York, USA
The University Club of New York has been around since 1865, making it one of America’s oldest private clubs. But premium social events aren’t the only thing it provides its members; it also has one of the most stunning libraries in the Big Apple.
Think wood-paneled walls packed with bookshelves, giving off a classic vibe, with frescoes spanning a cool barrel-vaulted ceiling that ties the whole look together.
Address: 1 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019, United States
Opening hours:
- No opening hours
Fleet Library, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island
Fleet Library at the Rhode Island School of Design may be off-limits to non-cardholders. However, nothing can detract from its architectural details, which blend modern energy with a traditional twist through wooden elements, like the staircase that leads out to a seating area and arched window panes.
Those who are lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside the Roger Mandle Building can access plenty of material related to design and art, with over 150,000 reads.
Address: 15 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday: 10AM - 6PM
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Andrew Dickson White Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Modeled after the medieval-themed libraries of Oxford and Cambridge, the three-story Andrew Dickson White Library at Cornell University is as alluring as they come, with its intricate metal details and quaint walkways infused with Gothic flair.
A moderate collection compared to others, it was initially established as Andrew Dickson White’s personal library, but it has since grown to include around 30,000 texts, featuring some truly remarkable rare finds.
Address: 27 E Ave, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30AM - 5PM
- Friday: 8:30AM - 4PM
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Suzzallo Library – Seattle, WA (University of Washington)
Certain libraries have the power to transport you to a whole other place, and Suzzallo Library does just that with its castle-like feel, stained glass windows, and wooden bookcases. Constructed in 1926, the Gothic atmosphere of this University of Washington library still remains to this very day.
Outsiders are free to visit, but just be aware that it’s a silent library, meaning no talking, just admiring from afar. You’ll be treated to around 1.6 million texts, including a prestigious selection of out-of-print titles.
Address: 4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 8AM - 8PM
- Friday: 8AM - 5PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: 1PM - 8PM
