Seattle Central Library

• The Seattle Central Library, in downtown Seattle, was designed by architect Rem Koolhaas and built in 2004. Patrons can take the "book spiral" walk, which leads up and down four levels of the library -- without stairs. The library also features a self-checkout system so patrons can check out materials without the assistance of library staff. The library features both print, online and other digital material.
  
  

Vancouver Public Library

• Designed to be reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum on the outside, the Vancouver Public Library, in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, features massive windows, a small indoor mall, reading rooms, study spaces and about 2.7 million items. The Vancouver Public Library is the third largest library in Canada, and provides service to more than 373,000 cardholders who borrow more than 9 million pieces each year in print and digital format.
  
  

The British Library

• Perhaps the most well-known library in the world, the British Library in London has more than 150 million items including books, patents, journals and sound recordings -- two-thirds of which are available in digital format, too. The library itself is young; it was opened in 1973. However, the British Library collection includes old and rare items such as the last remaining medieval copy of "Beowulf," Leonardo da Vinci's notebook and the Magna Carta.
  
  

Danish Royal Library

• The Danish Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark, -- known as "The Royal Library" -- is an elder as far as public libraries go. The Royal Library, as an institution, was founded in 1648; a new addition -- a striking black diamond-shaped wing -- was added in 1999. The new wing is home to public spaces, reading rooms, a concert hall, a terrace and two museums. The library holds original manuscripts from Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard and offers the works of Hans Christian Andersen online.