It’s a given that travel is intellectually and culturally broadening. And you’ve read in our blogs over the years about the incredible resources global libraries provide, whether you’re looking to stream a movie, connect your teen to a tech club, or access a language-training platform for free.
But what about libraries that are destinations in their own right? Here are a few:
Austria’s Admont Abbey Library is the largest monastic library in the world. It’s also acknowledged as the inspiration for the breathtaking library in the Disney film “Beauty and the Beast.” This stunning 250-year-old Baroque building houses 60,000 volumes. Visiting hours are longest in the summer – 10am to 5pm – but even if you can’t get there in person, anyone can experience the library in 3D online.
About 1500 km/932 mi from this lavish feast for the eyes is a simpler resource in a beautiful natural setting: the Albena Beach Library on the Black Sea in Bulgaria was the first beach library in Europe, offering 6000 titles in 15 languages. Its stacks welcome seaside visitors and encourage people to leave their own books behind to add to the collection. Albena Beach holds the Blue Flag eco-label for its purity – what better location to grab a good read?
While beautiful beaches are enticing, head to the Heydar Aliyev International Airportin Baku, Azerbaijan for its stunning architectural aesthetic. Award-winning design meets functionality throughout the airport, featuring droplet-shaped, natural wood structures that include a two-story library. Travelers may peruse the shelves, relax in a plush chair, and donate a book of their own if they wish.
Copenhagen’s Human Library curates not the printed word but the spoken one. Resources at the Menneskebiblioteket, as it is called in Danish, are volunteers from diverse walks of life whom visitors “check out” for 30-minute conversations. True to its motto “Unjudge Someone,” the Human Library Organization (HLO) is active in more than 80 countries, fostering understanding, breaking down stigma and stereotypes, and allowing people to have real conversations about difficult topics.
And just to prove that libraries serve all kinds of living things, there are ‘Doggo Libraries’ around the world with a “Take a stick, leave a stick” (or a ball) message that encourages sharing canine enjoyment. My own local library provides children with a safe space to practice their reading skills as they “Read to a Therapy Dog.”
Programs like this are found in libraries around the world; Tufts University’s Initiative for Human-Animal Interaction has delved into the benefits of these encounters.
Speaking of human-animal interactions, say hello to the newest Living Abroad family member: Elmer, a 12-week-old, 9-lb basset hound. May all your explorations – of libraries around the world and tiny connections closer to home – bring you joy.
