There is something inherently peaceful about a building full of books—and when that building happens to be a glorious feat of architecture, Americans take notice. Just browse through these libraries across the country to find out what we mean...
Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska
Photography: Homer Public Library
Arabian Library in Scottsdale, Arizona
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Ellen Forsyth
Los Angeles Central Library in Los Angeles, California
Photography: Shutterstock
Geisel Library in San Diego, California
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/O Palsson
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library in New Haven, Connecticut
Photography: Shutterstock
Library of Congress in Washington, DC
Photography: Shutterstock
Wilmington Public Library in Wilmington, Delaware
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
University of Idaho Library in Moscow, Idaho
Photography: Shutterstock
Indianapolis Public Library in Indianapolis, Indiana
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Serge Melki
Cedar Rapids Public Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Louis
Lawrence Public Library in Lawrence, Kansas
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Michael Sauers
George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland
Photography: Shutterstock
Boston Public Library in Boston, Massachusetts
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/exostratics
William W. Cook Legal Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/wsifrancis
Minneapolis Central Library in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Meet Minneapolis
Kansas City Public Library in Kansas City, Missouri
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Jonathan Moreau
Billings Public Library in Billings, Montana
Morgan Library and Museum in New York, New York
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Sarah Ross
New York Public Library in New York, New York
Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Alex Proimos
Braddock Carnegie Library in Braddock, Pennsylvania
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Payton Chung
Fisher Fine Arts Library of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/John Donges
Armstrong-Browning Library at Baylor University in Waco, Texas
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Texas Tongs
Salt Lake City Main Library in Salt Lake City, Utah
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Ken Lund
Slover Public Library in Norfolk, Virginia
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Michael Tefft
Seattle Public Library in Seattle, Washington
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Ming-yen Hsu
Suzzallo Library of the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington
Photography: Courtesy CC/Flickr/Joe Wolf