The Beautiful Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

In The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, Douglas Adams argued that airports are inherently ugly. Libraries are, however, I think, innately beautiful. And some are more beautiful than others. The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University is one such library.

Link -via Twisted Sifter

(Photo: Lauren Manning)

From the outside it looks like a mausoleum, from the inside it resembles a cathedral, with the marble "stained glass windows," and the books are like a reliquary or perhaps the objects of worship.

I'm not a fan of modern architecture but this example seems to be holding up rather well to the test of time.

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Someone told me that the library's stacks used to have a fire suppressant system that flood the room with carbon dioxide andtoxic halomethane when the fire detectors are triggered. Anyone that are unlucky enough to be inside will asphyxiate, but the books will be saved.

They've since replaced that with Inergen, which is breathable enough not to kill the humans inside.

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