'Our temples of culture': readers reflect on their favorite libraries across the US

To coincide with the New York Public Library reopening its Rose main reading room for the first time in two years earlier this month, we asked you for your photos and stories of the US libraries you’ve discovered

The Latter Library in New Orleans - a 1907 mansion donated for use as a library to memorialize a son killed in World War II
The Latter Library in New Orleans - a 1907 mansion donated for use as a library to memorialize a son killed in World War II Photograph: Jim Hunter/GuardianWitness

‘It’s almost always empty, and quiet like the grave’ - The Providence Athenaeum, Rhode Island

I was born in Detroit and lived in Providence between the ages of 9 and 17, when I left for college. The most striking thing about the Athenaeum is that it’s almost always empty and quiet like the grave. I had plenty of books at home growing up, but as an adolescent girl I really appreciated the access to books about sex. It was a way of learning without having to involve my mother, or indeed have her see that I was reading about it!

I do think libraries are important - especially for so-called “latch-key children” like myself. It was a place to go, out of the house, quiet and safe. I lived in cramped quarters with a single mother, and really needed some place to go. In cities they’re usually quite accessible and it’s unfortunate that suburban children often can’t just walk to a library, especially now that more economically disadvantaged children live in the suburbs.’ Leslie Molson

The Providence Athenaeum is the most beautiful library I’ve ever been to, outside of New York City.
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The Providence Athenaeum is the most beautiful library I’ve ever been to, outside of New York City. Photograph: Leslie Molson/GuardianWitness

An early advocator of modern US architecture’ - Davenport Public Library, Iowa

This public library dates back to 1839, but its current form is a 1960s building designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone. He was an early advocator of modern US architecture. Malavika Shrikhande

Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch
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Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch Photograph: Malavika Shrikhande/GuardianWitness

I go to this library more to photograph it, than to borrow books’ - Salt Lake City Library, Utah

The Salt Lake City Public Library has come a long way since its early years, when it was housed in the Salt Lake City and County Building back in the late 19th century. It has been relocated several times and the latest structure opened to the public in 2003. The building is fascinating. I go to this library more to photograph it than to borrow books. Christa Lamb

Salt Lake City library
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Salt Lake City library Photograph: Christa Lamb/GuardianWitness

A stunning and beautiful building both inside and out’ - Los Angeles Central Library, southern California

Several years ago I became unable to work due to various ailments. This led to depression, anxiety and crippling poverty. One of my friends decided that some time in the sun would do me good and sent me a ticket to visit her in LA. My friend showed me her favourite buildings in LA. We ascended Bunker Hill via the Angel’s Flight funicular railway right to the top where we had a lovely view of the city’s Central Library.

It was built in 1926 and its design is based on ancient Egyptian and Mediterranean Revival architecture. The library burned down twice in 1986 and as a result over 400,000 books were lost. A stunning and beautiful building both inside and out, they were selling badgeswith authors’ names on them in the children’s section when I visited. I got a Kurt Vonnegut badge and a Shel Silverstein badge. My favourite book I was introduced to by a library is Arthur Dogboy’s Long Weekend by Graham McIver. It’s still on my bookshelf 40 years later. Billy Oblivion

Los Angeles Central Library
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Los Angeles Central Library Photograph: Billy Oblivion/GuardianWitness

‘ I try to visit at least one library any time I visit a new city’ - The James B. Hunt Jr. library at NCSU, North Carolina

I’m originally from Catania, Sicily but have spent three years in Gainesville, Florida as a visiting PhD student. During my stay I have met a lot of people involved in research and academic studies. Some of my friends are from North Carolina and have studied at the North Carolina State University (NCSU) for their degrees. On one of my trips to North Carolina I decided to visit the NCSU Hunt library, as I’d heard that it’s one of the pioneering research libraries in US.

The most striking thing about this building is the so called “bookBot” (robotic book delivery system). It can store up to two million volumes in a climate-controlled environment and deliver any of them within minutes of a click in the online catalog. In the bookBot all books and other documents are barcoded, sorted by size, and stored in over 18,000 bins. Each item is scanned whenever it is removed from and returned to the system, to maximise the available storage space and allowing the library’s online catalog to track the location of all materials at all times.

The photo is of the library’s Rain Garden Reading Lounge - a colourful soft seating area arranged around curved book shelves containing new books in engineering, computer science and a science fiction collection. You could read for hours in there without even realising it! it’s definitely my favourite part.

Libraries represent the temples of cultures. There wouldn’t have been any progress for the human race without books. All our knowledge, without exception, comes from a book, a volume, an article, a note written by remarkable authors and stored somewhere in a library. Students shouldn’t feel intimidated by stepping inside a library. Here is where new ideas come to life. Here is where the greatest scientists, poets, doctors, engineers, physicists have turned their passion into discoveries and research paths that would change the world forever. I try to visit at least one library any time I visit a new city or a new place around the world. Alessandra Distefano

Hunt library at NCSU
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Hunt library at NCSU Photograph: Alessandra Distefano/GuardianWitness

‘It will likely be allowed to fall into gradual disrepair’ - Leeds, North Dakota

We’d specifically made a point of visiting Leeds, North Dakota as we’re originally from Leeds, England. Like so many historic buildings in the mid-west the old city hall/library now stands empty and will likely be allowed to fall into gradual disrepair. Both facilities have been relocated to a larger, slightly more modern building just along the road. Libraries are clearly invaluable in terms of academic research, as a way to discover new writers and subjects, and as an introduction to the joys of reading for children. They can also play a vital role as a community hub. Peter Thody

City Hall and Library, Leeds, North Dakota
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City Hall and Library, Leeds, North Dakota Photograph: Peter Thody/GuardianWitness

It’s situated by the lake, surrounded by trees draped with moss’ - Walton-DeFuniak Library, DeFuniak Springs, Florida

I’m a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and every summer I head south for a week’s vacation with my three nephews in tow. The destination is Seagrove Beach in Florida. We like to take the scenic route and drive through all the small towns with the tiny church yard cemeteries, cotton fields, and local cafes. Once we decided to take a slight detour and explore a place with the exotic name of DeFuniak Springs. I had read the town’s Lake DeFuniak is one of the two almost perfectly round circular spring-fed lakes in the world and we wanted to see it.

Being a librarian and making a point to visit libraries where ever I travel, I was caught by surprise as the road we were traveling on dead ended right in front of the most enchanting library I had ever seen before. It’s situated by the lake, surrounded by trees draped with moss. I had to stop immediately and take a photo. Built in 1886 the library is the oldest in Florida operating in its original building. It serves the 5,000 citizens with a collection of 25,000 books.

Public libraries are essential to a healthy democracy. It is the one place where all members of the community are welcomed to enter and make free use of all the resources available regardless of age or income. It’s a place that protects access to information for everyone and preserves the community’s memory. It’s a safe harbor for children and a meeting place for seniors. Budget cuts have meant that some libraries have been closed in the United States but many have been reopened after a loud outcry from citizens. Public officials should take notice and make sure public libraries are adequately funded.

Walton-DeFuniak Library in DeFuniak Springs, Florida opened in 1887
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Walton-DeFuniak Library in DeFuniak Springs, Florida opened in 1887 Photograph: Melinda Shelton/GuardianWitness

‘As tourists in the US, libraries never really meant anything to us before’ - Boston City Library

We were in Boston after an almost epic road trip and had planned to spend a couple of days in the city. On our final day the biting wind and grey skies led us to find shelter from the cold and to continue our exploration of the city via warmer places. We spent hours wandering around the Boston City Library exploring and finding out more about the fascinating history of the city and it’s surroundings along with many interesting facts about well known writers who hailed from the area. It’s very rich in that regard.

I found a collection by American essayist, lecturer, and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson titled English Traits (1856) which was primary about his travels to England which was fun to skim through. As tourists in the US libraries never really meant anything to us before, but this experience with the fantastic building and it’s contents made us reconsider. We will in future stop by to see what lies within on any future adventures. Stuart Cox

The grand and very well used Boston City Library reading rooms
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The grand and very well used Boston City Library reading rooms Photograph: Stuart Cox/GuardianWitness

The dry desert air may have a lot to do with the marvellous smell of books’ - Palm Springs Public Library, southern California

Palm Springs in California is in an earthquake zone, and the city’s library leaves nothing to chance. I spotted some instructions on what to do during a quake. The dry desert air may have a lot to do with the marvellous smell of books in the library. Richard Tate

Earthquake Warning, Palm Springs Public Library
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Earthquake Warning, Palm Springs Public Library Photograph: Richard Tate/GuardianWitness
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/19/favorite-american-libraries-us-readers-books-experiences
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