One of the little rituals I have whenever I travel to a new city is this: I go searching for the library. For some people it’s coffee shops or parks, but for me, it’s always libraries. They are, in my opinion, the quiet heart of any place—the repository of knowledge, history, and culture, all bound and waiting to be discovered.
I’ve seen many libraries in my travels, from the small, charming ones in places like Skagway, Alaska, where you can literally see through one end of the building to the other, yet still feel the warmth and character of the community inside, to one of my personal favorites: the Calgary Public Library. Its design rises like a piece of driftwood or a carved knot of light bursting from the ocean—a place that feels both modern and timeless.
And then, of course, there is the British Library. To call it “big” would be an understatement. It is massive—a temple to knowledge. Imagine towering shelves, millions of books, and right at the center, a vast glass tower filled with thousands of rare, ancient volumes preserved perfectly, as if time itself has been convinced to stand still for them.
Unfortunately, access to most of the collection is reserved for researchers, university students, or cardholders—categories I don’t fall into. But even as a visitor, there’s so much to take in. You can wander the exhibition halls, where history feels close enough to touch. One moment you’re looking at the Magna Carta, that centuries-old document often described as the cornerstone of English constitutional law, and the next you’re smiling at an original script from Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition. High history and high humor, side by side—only in a library could those two worlds coexist so comfortably.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but reflect on why I love libraries so much. They are more than just buildings filled with books; they’re living archives of human curiosity, creativity, and resilience. Every city shapes its library differently, but they all tell the same story: that knowledge matters, that culture is worth preserving, and that people—no matter where you go—care deeply about learning and sharing.
The British Library, with its mix of ancient treasures and modern gathering spaces, felt like both a museum and a sanctuary. I left feeling both humbled and lucky—to have walked its halls, to have glimpsed its treasures, and to be reminded once again why I always seek out libraries when I travel.
