Library buildings have always served not only as repositories of knowledge but also as collective spaces for study, quiet reading, and communication. Although printed books have faced strong competition in recent years due to the seemingly unlimited availability of information on the internet, spectacular structures testify to the enduring relevance and fascination of the public library as an architectural task. Spanning from the mid-19th century to the present day, this publication features a selection of 40 particularly innovative library buildings from Europe, Asia, and America. Each is presented with photographs, plans, and a detailed explanatory text. In six accompanying essays, historians, journalists, library professionals, and writers explore the places where books are collected, used, and read.