Try keeping your eyes on the page in these stunning temples to the written word. In honor of <a href="http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek" target="_blank" target="_blank">National Library Week,</a> peek inside 11 U.S. libraries that are well worth a visit. Designed by Moshe Safdie, <a href="http://www.slcpl.org/branches/view/Main+Library" target="_blank" target="_blank">Salt Lake City's Main Library</a> opened in 2003. A six-story curving wall hugs a central daylight-filled plaza, and a rooftop garden offers sweeping views of Utah's Salt Lake Valley.
Main Library, Salt Lake City —
Try keeping your eyes on the page in these stunning temples to the written word. In honor of National Library Week, peek inside 11 U.S. libraries that are well worth a visit. Designed by Moshe Safdie, Salt Lake City's Main Library opened in 2003. A six-story curving wall hugs a central daylight-filled plaza, and a rooftop garden offers sweeping views of Utah's Salt Lake Valley.
BellaOra Studios/Courtesy Salt Lake City Public Library
Now the <a href="http://www.themorgan.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Morgan Library and Museum</a>, this was once the private library of financier Pierpont Morgan. Built between 1902 and 1906, the library features towering triple tiers of bookcases made of bronze and inlaid Circassian walnut. J.P. Morgan Jr. gave his father's library to the public in 1924. Admission is $18 for adults. <br />
Morgan Library, New York —
Now the Morgan Library and Museum, this was once the private library of financier Pierpont Morgan. Built between 1902 and 1906, the library features towering triple tiers of bookcases made of bronze and inlaid Circassian walnut. J.P. Morgan Jr. gave his father's library to the public in 1924. Admission is $18 for adults.
Graham Haber
Designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, the $185 million San Diego Central Library opened in 2013. The library has a three-story domed reading room and a 350-seat auditorium.
San Diego Central Library —
Designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, the $185 million San Diego Central Library opened in 2013. The library has a three-story domed reading room and a 350-seat auditorium.
San Diego Central Library.
Seattle's $166 million <a href="http://www.spl.org/locations/central-library/cen-building-facts" target="_blank" target="_blank">Central Library</a> opened in 2004. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramus, the building combines 9,994 pieces of exterior glass with 4,644 tons of steel.
Central Library, Seattle —
Seattle's $166 million Central Library opened in 2004. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramus, the building combines 9,994 pieces of exterior glass with 4,644 tons of steel.
Ron Wurzer/Getty Images
The current home of the <a href="http://www.hclib.org/about/locations/minneapolis-central-tours" target="_blank" target="_blank">Minneapolis Central Library</a> opened in 2006. In addition to books, the Cesar Pelli-designed structure includes an art gallery, a green roof, four fireplaces and a piano room.
Minneapolis Central Library —
The current home of the Minneapolis Central Library opened in 2006. In addition to books, the Cesar Pelli-designed structure includes an art gallery, a green roof, four fireplaces and a piano room.
Dan Anderson
The<a href="http://www.nypl.org/about/locations/schwarzman/visitor-guide" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Stephen A. Schwarzman Building</a> of the New York Public Library is a Beaux Arts landmark on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Designed by the firm Carrère & Hastings, the library opened to the public in 1911. It houses about 15 million items.
New York Public Library, Schwarzman Building —
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of the New York Public Library is a Beaux Arts landmark on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Designed by the firm Carrère & Hastings, the library opened to the public in 1911. It houses about 15 million items.
Jonathan Blanc
The <a href="http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/about/about-building" target="_blank" target="_blank">Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library</a> at Yale University is one of the world's largest buildings devoted exclusively to rare books. Completed in 1963, the building was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Inside, a glass tower of books rises through the library's center. The building will be closed for an infrastructure <a href="http://beineckelibraryrenovation.yale.edu/" target="_blank" target="_blank">renovation</a> starting in May, but its remarkable architecture won't change.
Beinecke Library, New Haven, Connecticut —
The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University is one of the world's largest buildings devoted exclusively to rare books. Completed in 1963, the building was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of the firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Inside, a glass tower of books rises through the library's center. The building will be closed for an infrastructure renovation starting in May, but its remarkable architecture won't change.
David D. Driscoll
The current <a href="http://www.loc.gov/about/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Library of Congress</a> building opened its doors to the public on November 1, 1897. It is the United States' oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world. The library houses more than 36 million books and printed materials, as well as more than 121 million maps, photographs and other items. Free guided tours are offered several times each day.
Library of Congress, Washington —
The current Library of Congress building opened its doors to the public on November 1, 1897. It is the United States' oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world. The library houses more than 36 million books and printed materials, as well as more than 121 million maps, photographs and other items. Free guided tours are offered several times each day.
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images
Half-domes bookend either end of an impressive barrel-arched ceiling in <a href="http://www.bpl.org/general/history.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Boston Public Library's</a> Bates Hall. The 1895 library on Copley Square was designed by Charles Follen McKim.
Boston Public Library —
Half-domes bookend either end of an impressive barrel-arched ceiling in Boston Public Library's Bates Hall. The 1895 library on Copley Square was designed by Charles Follen McKim.
Boston Public Library
Brimming with legal volumes, the<a href="http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/collections/law-library" target="_blank" target="_blank"> Iowa State Law Library</a> on the second floor of the Capitol building in Des Moines is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The <a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/resources/tourCapitol/pictorial/today/secondFloor/lawLibrary" target="_blank" target="_blank">library's</a> tile floor and stained glass ceiling date to 1884.
Iowa State Law Library, Des Moines —
Brimming with legal volumes, the Iowa State Law Library on the second floor of the Capitol building in Des Moines is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. The library's tile floor and stained glass ceiling date to 1884.
Jason Mrachina/CNN iReport
Founded in 1836, the <a href="http://www.providenceathenaeum.org/index.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">Providence Athenaeum </a>in Rhode Island is an independent, member-supported library. The Greek Revival building that houses the library was designed by Philadelphia architect William Strickland and completed in 1838. The Athenaeum is open to the public.
Providence Athenaeum, Rhode Island —
Founded in 1836, the Providence Athenaeum in Rhode Island is an independent, member-supported library. The Greek Revival building that houses the library was designed by Philadelphia architect William Strickland and completed in 1838. The Athenaeum is open to the public.
Franck Bohbot