The 20 most spellbinding university libraries in the world
From Harry Potter to high-tech glass domes, these universities have some serious libraries to their names
The 20 most spellbinding university libraries in the world
Show all 31You can't have a university without a library. The hub of any academic's life, some of these libraries have been feeding the minds of scholars for nearly 500 years.
From Duke Humfrey's Library at Oxford, built in the 16th century, to the Joe & Rika Mansueto library built only a couple of years ago, to the Stirling Memorial library built in the 1930s, each has its own unique look and feel.
How we expect our libraries to appear and function has changed. Irrespective of age, the following buildings each demonstrate unusual and beautiful approaches to the focal point of any university.
As you prepare to head off to university for the first time - or perhaps if you're already studying in one of these institutions - all these libraries stand testament to the brilliance of books.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies