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Posted by Andrea Prado

February is Library Lover's Month and we are so excited to share with you some really awesome libraries from around the world. We hope these inspire you to travel AND share with us on Instagram what you thought of these unique places. 



Haskell Free Library - International Border of US and Canada 

This library opened in 1905 and includes an opera house and many shelves of books. It lies on the border of the United States and Canada so visitors from both countries can enjoy the selection of books. 

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What do two tiny border towns in Canada 🇨🇦 and the USA 🇺🇸 have in common? A library!! 📚 Derby Line, Vermont, USA (population 776), and Stanstead, Canada (pop. 2,500) are on the international US-Canada border and the residents of both towns have access to the library that straddles the border. The library was built in 1904, by a local resident Mrs. Martha Stewart Haskell, in memory of her parents and her husband. Prior to 09/11 terrorist attacks there were very little movement restrictions, but that has changed now. The entrance to the building is on the US side, and Canadian customers are allowed to use the sidewalk and enter the US to the library without having to go to the near-by border crossing. Rest assure there is a border patrol agent stationed right by the sidewalk 24/7. There is a wheelchair ramp right at the entrance ♿️ and once inside, a large thick black tape on the floor shows where the border runs through the library! So you could be reading books in Canada and US at the same time! 😊 The library also has a small 400-people capacity opera house. The balcony is not accessible, but ground floor is! We haven’t checked bathroom when we were there, so we don’t know if it’s accessible or not. Staff is extremely helpful and very friendly! Books are in both French 🇫🇷 and English 🇬🇧 languages! . . . . . . . #haskellfreelibrary #library #books #bookstagram #frenchlanguage #englishlanguage #derbyline #derbylinevt #stanstead #canada #usa #vermont #quebec #wheelchair #wheelchairtravel #explore #roadtrip #librarian #livres #livrestagram #bibliothèque #fauteuilroulant #accessibility #accessibilité #accssble

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McAllen Public Library - McAllen, TX

The McAllen Public Library took over an old Walmart for its new 123,000-square-foot main branch, four times the size of its previous location. Now the city of McAllen now boasts the largest single floor public library in the United States, which was also recently named the most beautiful library in Texas.



Bookbikes - Tucson, Arizona 

The Pima County Public Library in Tucson, Arizona took a mobile approach in order to reach more patrons. The library has three Bookbikes that can be found in many of their community events. These Bookbikes carry free books and distribute library cards as well. 



Located as an extension of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Modern, the library occupies a vast area on a single level dominated by a huge square head devised by the sculptor Sacha Sosno. They designed it to be the largest occupied sculpture in the world. This amazing structure contains seven floors and it is 28 meters high. 



Beach Library - Albena, Bulgaria

Containing over 2,500 books in ten different languages, this library is unlike any other. Built on the beach of the Bulgarian Black Sea resort city of Albena, visiting it would be an experience unlike any other. 



Epos - West Coast of Norway

This library ship visits small communities spread out in three counties in Norway. This excellent method of transportation first included books in 1959 and carries a total of 6,000 books at a time. At any given time, some 20,000 of the floating library's books are lent out.

Tardis Little Library  - Detroit, Michigan

This small streetside library was built by Dan Zemke, who is clearly a big Doctor Who fan. It is a lifesize replica of the TARDIS from the show, and he was inspired to build it since he also runs a local branch of the youth reading program Reach-Out-And-Read. The mini library holds up to 140 books.

 


Biblioteca Vasconcelos - Mexico City, Mexico 

Labeled by the press as a "megalibrary"; it's over 400,000 square meters in size and has more than 470,000 books. This library in downtown Mexico City is a must see for all travelers 



Picture Book Library  -  Iwaki City, Japan

Serving three preschools while also getting older visitors who come to see its collection of international children's books, this library is an incredible resource. All of the books are displayed with the covers out. The library has approximately 10,000 books, 1,500 of which are on display at any given time.



Peckham Library - Peckham, London

In 2000 the arrival of its public library caused quite a stir in the London district of Peckham. The colorful new feature has proven popular with Peckham residents, but its striking mix of primary-hued glass, copper, and steel weave apparently appeals to those who visit it too. 

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