Utkarsha Srivastava

THE MOST UNIQUE LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES AROUND THE GLOBE “A PLACE ISN’T A PLACE UNTIL IT HAS A BOOKSTORE” GABRIELLE ZEVIN Are you an avid reader? Imagine your perfect bookstore. Do you like to disappear in the symphony of the words of your favourite books? Let me remind you again that the world is a beautiful place and the moment you start thinking that there is nothing left in the world to surprise you anymore, you’ll certainly come across things which will leave you awestruck. Whether you crave a classic, musty warren or a grand and gleaming boutique, from Alaska to New Zealand, these ten unusual, magical , magnificent and beautiful bookstores and libraries are sure to delight your inner bibliophile. 1) EPOS – NORWAY Norway is widely known for its many mountains, its mile long, vivid coastline and its many fjords. In autumn of 1959, the inhabitants of Hordaland county was offered their very own book boat. The purpose was to expand the cultural scene. At that time, the boat was called Abdulla, but they changed the boat and the name in 1963 into ‘Epos’, creating an even wider connotation to its purpose. Epos became the floating cultural scene where books and other events were made available to the people living in the middle of nowhere. The floating library contains over 4000 books and audio books and it offers its services to three counties. 2) ACQUA ALTA – VENICE, ITALY Located just steps from St. Mark’s Square, this self-proclaimed “most beautiful bookstore in the world” is literally stuffed with books, magazines, maps, and more throughout its labyrinth of interconnected rooms. To help protect its inventory from Venice’s constant flooding, this quirky store, whose name means “Library of High Water,” has found a simple solution: stack the books in bathtubs, boats, waterproof bins, and even a full-sized gondola. 3) WEAPON OF MASS INSTRUCTION – ARGENTINA When you see this mobile library, its name makes sense. The 1979 Ford Falcon has a tank-inspired frame over it that is literally stuffed with books. Its creator Raul Lemesoff has driven it all across Argentina, bringing literature of all genres to small and impoverished towns. The exterior framework is capable of carrying 900 books. 4) ZHONGSHUGE BOOKSTORE, CHINA The Zhongshuge Bookstore is nothing short of an optical illusion. With mirrors extending across the entire ceiling, the bookstore seems like an infinite mass of books. One of the most creatively designed bookstores; it can essentially be referred to as a forest of mirrors. Another room in the bookstore is called the book playground where bookshelves are designed as different rides in a playground. Awaken your inner child by plucking books off the Ferris wheel, a train or even a rollercoaster. 5) RIJKSMUSEUM- AMSTERDAM This marvelous Library, part of the Rijksmuseum, is the largest public art history research library in the Netherlands. Since 1885 books, catalogues and annual reports relating to the Rijksmuseum have been collected without interruption. 6) Selexyz Bookstore (Maastricht, Holland) Imagine perusing rows of classic books and popular literature under the roof of a gothic church dating back to 1294. The Selexyz Bookstore, housed within the 700-year-old Selexyz Dominicanen, seamlessly juxtaposes past and present and provides one of the most unusual settings for browsing books and grabbing a coffee. Closed by Napoleon Bonaparte during his 1794 invasion, the church sat abandoned for over two centuries before being restored to its current glory. The crown jewel in this sacred literature is a three-story bookshelf complete with ornate walkways and staircases. 7) McAllen Public Library – McAllen, Texas, USA The MCAllen public Library is an award-winning diverse library system which was initially a Walmart. The earlier library was getting too small and hece the civilians came up with an idea and converted the local Walmart into a library which now houses 14 study rooms, a computer lab and thousands of books. 8) THE ABBEY BOOKSHOP – PARIS, FRANCE Housing more than 35000 books, The Abbey Bookshop is a very famous bookstore located in Paris, France. Started in 1989 by Toronto native Brian Spence, it is tiny little hole in the wall located in the former Hotel Dubuisson, an 18th-century protected monument known for its carved doors and decorative sculptures. 9) Biblioteca Vasconcelos – Mexico City, Mexico With over 470,000 books, spread over an area of 400,000 square metres, this library in downtom Mexico city has often been labelled as a ‘megalibrary’. The library is most definitely an arc of knowledge in Mexico City. 10) House of Books (St. Petersburg, Russia) With tens of thousand of titles under the roof of one of St. Petersburg’s most beautiful buildings, this bookstore is a must-see for any literary aficionado. Housed within the historic Singer House building on Nevsky Prospekt, and founded in 1919, the House of Books is an icon of Russian cultural heritage and a beloved landmark in the city. The bookstore, designed by Architect Pavol Suzer is located in a six-story Art Nouveau-style building, topped by a glass tower and globe structure by Estonian artist Amandus Adamson.