Libraries play a key part in book donations in any city, and having discovered many of them in creating my guides, some of these libraries really stood out to me (even though they’re not supposed to!)
Yes, I’m talking about the extremely distinct, brutalist libraries. Overall, this list is compiled of nine brutalist libraries from all over the world.
The Geisel Library
Where: San Diego, California
Year Opened: 1970
Even as far as brutalism goes, this library is a special one! Designed by William Pereria of Chicago, this library features extreme “cantilevering.”
The British Library
Where: London, United Kingdom
Year Opened: 1998
This is an outlier on this list, in that it’s a rare brutalist library that didn’t open in the seventies! Work began on the library in 1962, but it was quite a wait before Londoners could actually use it.
Designed by Professor Sir Colin St. John Wilson and M.J. Long, and featuring brutalist landmarks like Trellick Tower, the British Library was given a “listed building” status in 2015.
Regenstein Library, University of Chicago
Where: Chicago, Illinois
Year Opened: 1970
The University of Chicago’s brutalist landmark, The Regenstein Library, holds over 4.5 million books, manuscripts, and journals.
A bronze sculpture commemorating the world’s first nuclear chain reaction, which took place in 1942 on the site of the library, stands outside, completing this brutalist look. And yes, the exterior does resemble pages of a book!
John P. Robarts Library, University of Toronto
Where: Toronto, Canada
Year Opened: 1973
O, Canada! This brutalist library was named after John Robarts, the 17th Premier of Ontario. It is part of the University of Toronto library system, and holds a staggering 4.5 million bookform items.
Beinecke Library, Yale
Where: New Haven, Connecticut
Year Opened: 1963
A glass tower of books resides in the main entrance to this Yale Library, and the exterior is nothing short of classically brutalist.
Although the student library doesn’t feature in our guide on Connecticut book donations, it’s more than worth a spot on this particular list!
Boston Public Library, Roxbury Branch
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
Year Opened: 1978
Brutalism, reimagined. That sums up the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library, which underwent a huge renovation in 2019. The original building, designed by Kallman and McKinnell Architects, was designed in a Brutalist style and badly neglected.
The Boston Public Library features in our guide on where to donate books in Boston!
Goddard Library, Clark University
Where: Worcester, Massachusetts
Year Opened: 1969
Famous not only for its brutalist style, but for its opening… The Goddard Library had its ribbon cut by none other than Buzz Aldrin, just two months before he went to the moon. Aldrin was the son of Clark alumnus Edwin Aldrin Sr.
Birmingham Central Library
Where: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Year Opened: 1974
Designed by local architect John Madin, the brutalist library of Birmingham sits perhaps awkwardly against the Victorian municipal buildings, conglomerated in Birmingham City Center.
As this excellently written piece states, local Brummies don’t rate the look of this place too highly. The piece is entitled “Paradise Lost” which gives you an idea of how the town felt!
Phillips Exeter Academy Library
Where: Exeter, New Hampshire
Year Opened: 1965
Designed by Louis Kahn, this example of brutalist library design is widely regarded by aspiring architects. The interior is particularly impressive!