West Hempstead Public Library patrons who are travelers or appreciate history, architecture, and libraries should read the Sunday 7/31 NY Times article describing libraries in Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Prague, Seville and Vienna as great European sanctuaries.
History buffs will appreciate the nearly 900 year old Prague Strahov Monastery and Library
and the Paris Bibliotheque de France which was created in 1368 for Charles V's manuscripts. Travelers interested in the history of the discovery of the Americas will find the Seville Archivo General de Indias fascinating. Nearby in Seville they can also visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
Each library's architecture is worth a visit. The Austrian National Library in Vienna includes frescoed ceilings, marble statues and ornate bookcases while the Amsterdam Centrale Biblioteek is a beautiful 10 story structure built in 2007. The National Library of Ireland in Dublin has a domed ceiling and a floor mosaic with the motto "Sapientia", Latin for wisdom.
Libraries are always great places to visit while traveling, and as the article suggests, they are often free of crowds. So if you visit any beautiful libraries in Europe or elsewhere, be sure to take a few pictures where permitted and share them on our Facebook fan page.
This article was reported on by B.Koehler, with weblinks added by L.Joe.