Library porn

College Parkian a commentator over at the Achenblog linked to this great site with pictures of some of the most elegant libraries out there.

My favorites (in order of appearance on the page):

• Library of Congress, Washington, DC, USA: I have to give it up for the local favorite.  I always recommend tourists stop by the Library of Congress, I think it's less well known to sightseers than it should be.
• Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Impressively they manage incredible beauty with good lighting.
• Theology Room at St. Deiniol's library, North Wales: A smaller charmer.  I'm giving it points in part because I just like that style of architecture.
  

Anyhow, while the  "Melk Monastery Library" is quite pretty, aren't monasteries supposed to be at least a little ascetic?