The World's Most Beautiful Libraries is a lovely collection of some of the most awe-inspiring libraries ever built.

Via the publisher:

In this new photographic journey, Massimo Listri travels to some of the oldest and finest libraries to reveal their architectural, historical, and imaginative wonder. Through great wooden doors, up spiraling staircases, and along exquisite, shelf-lined corridors, he leads us through outstanding private, public, educational, and monastic libraries, dating as far back as 766. Between them, these medieval, classical, baroque, rococo, and 19th-century institutions hold some of the most precious records of human thought and deed, inscribed and printed in manuscripts, volumes, papyrus scrolls, and incunabula. In each, Listri's poised images capture the library's unique atmosphere, as much as their most prized holdings and design details.

Check out his Instagram for just a few of the examples:

The coffee table book isn't cheap, so maybe suggest it as an acquisition for your local library!

• The World's Most Beautiful Libraries (via Taschen)