When I lived in New York, I always loved going to the Public Library.  The big one, with  the lions out front.

Often, I had nothing I particularly needed to research — I just liked spending some time in a space so historic, hushed and grand.  So I caught a thrill when I came across these spectacular photos of the world’s great libraries.  They’re from the book Libraries by photographer Candida Höfer and they represent a time when libraries weren’t just functional boxes, but where works of art in themselves.

Feast your eyes, book lovers.

Photos of the World’s Greatest Libraries