These Libraries Are Gorgeous Enough To Turn Anyone Into A Bookworm

The Richelieu-Louvois Library

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The National Library of France is located in Paris and fills several buildings. One of them is the ornate Richelieu-Louvois Library, seen above. This facility houses a wide variety of materials, including maps, a huge collection of rare manuscripts, music, coins and antiques, and photographs.The Richelieu-Louvois building was completed in 1868 and then expanded in 1875. Another renovation began in 2009. At one point it held the largest collection of books in the world.

Fascinating fact: the reading room pictured above was built with a system of pneumatic tubes to deliver books to patrons!