Most Beautiful College Libraries

No major introduction needed here, as a picture is worth a thousand words. Here we take a look at some of the most magnificent university libraries across the country.

Comfort and atmosphere play a huge role in getting in a quality study session. The problem is that some of these libraries are so beautiful that they almost become too distracting to study in.

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Most Beautiful College Libraries: The Quick List

1. Bapst Library, Boston College
2. William W. Cook Legal Research Library, University of Michigan
3. Suzzallo Library, University of Washington
4. Butler Library, Columbia University
5. Fisher Fine Arts Library, Penn
6. Chancellor Green Library, Princeton
7. Doe Library, UC Berkeley
8. Harper Library, University of Chicago
9. Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library, Vassar
10. Sterling Memorial Library, Yale
11. Firestone Library, Princeton
12. Powell Library, UCLA
13. George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University
14. Widener Library, Harvard
15. Special Collections Library, University of Virginia
16. Perkins/Bostock Library, Duke University
17. Riggs Library, Georgetown University
18. Bizzell Memorial Library, University of Oklahoma
19. Rush Rhees Library, University of Rochester
20. Baker Hall, Harvard
21. Williston Library, Mount Holyoke College
22. Uris Library, Cornell
23. Monroe Library, Loyola University New Orleans
24. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale
25. Baker Memorial Library, Dartmouth

More: See Part Two (#26-50)

1. Bapst Library - Boston College
Bapst Library is the most beautiful college library

2. William W. Cook Legal Research Library - University of Michigan
Michigan Law Library
The beautiful Michigan Law Library Reading Room

3. Suzzallo Library - University of Washington
Suzzallo Library
Suzzallo Reading Room

4. Butler Library - Columbia University
Butler Library


5. Fisher Fine Arts Library - Penn
Fisher Fine Arts Library


6. Chancellor Green Library - Princeton University
Chancellor Green Library

7. Doe Library - UC Berkeley

Doe Library

8. Harper Library - University of Chicago
Harper Library


9. Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library - Vassar College
Vassar Library


10. Sterling Memorial Library - Yale
Yale's Sterling Library


11. Firestone Library - Princeton
Princeton's Firestone Library


12. Powell Library - UCLA
Powell Library UCLA
Powell Library

13. George Peabody Library - Johns Hopkins University
George Peabody Library

14. Widener Library - Harvard


15. Special Collections Library - University of Virginia
University of Virginia

16. Perkins/Bostock Library - Duke University



17. Riggs Library - Georgetown University
Riggs Library

18. Bizzell Memorial Library - University of Oklahoma


19. Rush Rhees Library - University of Rochester
Rush Rhees Library

20. Baker Hall - Harvard



21. Williston Library - Mount Holyoke College


22. Uris Library - Cornell University
Uris Library


23. Monroe Library - Loyola University New Orleans
Monroe Library

24. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library - Yale University



25. Baker Memorial Library - Dartmouth

More: See Part Two (#26-50)


This is part two of our ranking of the most beautiful college libraries. When we originally did the ranking back in June, we were going to rank the top 50 ‘most beautiful’ but only published the top 25. We didn't think readers would be interested in looking at 50+ pictures of libraries. Apparently that’s not the case as the article has been one of our most popular articles over the last year and has left readers wanting more.

Due to the interest in college library beauty and architecture we now present part two of the most beautiful college libraries. For many of these libraries, the pictures do not do them justice. We tried to capture the beauty of each of these libraries by selecting a few photos that best show their interior and exterior design. However, one must visit these libraries in person to get the true feeling of inspiration that these buildings provide.

Most Beautiful College Libraries Part Two (#26-50)

See the original Part One ranking (#1-25) at: https://www.campusgrotto.com/most-beautiful-college-libraries.html

26. Paul Barret, Jr. Library - Rhodes College
27. Cornell Law Library - Cornell University
28. Deering Library - Northwestern University
29. Linderman Library - Lehigh University
30. Lillian Goldman Law Library - Yale Law School
31. Z. Smith Reynolds Library - Wake Forest University
32. Mudd Hall Philosophy Library - USC
33. Walter Library - University of Minnesota
34. Harvard Law Library - Harvard University
35. Woodruff Library - Emory University
36. University of Texas Libraries
37. William T. Young Library - University of Kentucky
38. Meyer Library - Southwest Missouri State
39. Browning Library - Baylor University
40. Waidner-Spahr Library - Dickinson College
41. Pitts Theology Library - Emory University
42. Wilson Library - University of North Carolina
43. Washington University in St. Louis Law Library
44. Harwell Goodwin Davis Library - Samford University
45. Richard J Klarchek Information Commons - Loyola University Chicago
46. James B. Duke Library - Furman University
47. Meskill Law Library - University of Connecticut Law School
48. Robert Muldrow Cooper Library - Clemson University
49. Drinko Library - Marshall University
50. Harold B. Lee Library - BYU

Paul Barret, Jr. Library - Rhodes College
Paul Barret Jr Library at Rhodes College
Paul Barret, Jr. Library
Inside Paul Barret, Jr. Library
Paul Barret Jr Library at Rhodes College

Cornell Law Library in Myron Taylor Hall
Cornell law library
Gould Reading Room
myron taylor hall.
windows in the cold

Deering Library - Northwestern University
Deering Meadow!
Deering Library
The Library at Northwestern

Linderman Library - Lehigh University
The Home of Humanities
Lehigh University Library
Linderman Library #5 4-08

Lillian Goldman Law Library - Yale Law School
Yale Law Library reading room
Yale Law Library Windows Stained Glass
Yale Law School

Z. Smith Reynolds Library - Wake Forest University
Z. Smith Reynolds Library
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Atrium

Mudd Hall Philosophy Library - USC
Mudd Hall

Walter Library - University of Minnesota
Walter Library
Walter Library
Walter Library Ceiling

Harvard Law Library in Langdell Hall
Langdell Hall
Harvard Law School Langdell Hall
Library @ Harvard School of Law

Woodruff Library - Emory University
Woodruff Library Under a Spring Sky

University of Texas Libraries

The University of Texas is home to multiple beautiful libraries:

Architecture and Planning Library

UT Architecture and Planning Library
Battle Hall

The Life Science Library

UT Life Science Library

Located in this building:

UT tower

William T. Young Library - University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky - W. T. Young Library
University of Kentucky 05
William T. Young Library at University of Kentucky

Meyer Library at Southwest Missouri State
Meyer Library
Meyer Library

Browning Library - Baylor University
Browning Library
library1
groovehouseatwork

Waidner-Spahr Library - Dickinson College
Exterior shot of Library

Pitts Theology Library - Emory University
Pitts Theology Library
PB071484-Pitts-Theology-Library-2ndFl-Lobby-Beam-Archl
PB071486-Pitts-Theology-Library-Stacks-Window

Wilson Library - University of North Carolina
Bye bye, Wilson Library
Louis Round Wilson Library

Washington University in St. Louis Law Library
WUSTL Law Library
WUSTL Law Library
Anheuser-Busch Hall Library

Harwell Goodwin Davis Library - Samford University
Davis Library

Richard J Klarchek Information Commons - Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago

James B. Duke Library - Furman University
Furman University Library
Duke Library, Furman

Meskill Law Library - University of Connecticut Law School
Meskill Law Library
old school
UCONN Law School

Robert Muldrow Cooper Library - Clemson University
Reflection Pond
Robert Muldrow Cooper Library
Robert Muldrow Cooper Library Bridge at Clemson

Drinko Library - Marshall University
Drinko 5 Shot HDR
Drinko 3 Shot HDR

Harold B. Lee Library - BYU
BYU Library
Inside BYU Library