READERS’ SANCTUARY

Worldly Wisdom: 10 Libraries Totally Worth Traveling To

Image: Gabriel Sollmann

In a fast-paced world where information is often reduced to a few characters, there's a haven that stands the test of time—the library. Beyond the unique scent of ancient pages, these bastions of knowledge are a true treasure for the curious, guarding the boundless realms of imagination and human history.

So, let’s embark on a literary pilgrimage around the world! In this article, we will explore 10 wonderful libraries that are totally worth visiting at least once.

Image: Daniela Martinez

Nestled in the heart of Mexico City, this architectural marvel is a bibliophile's dream. With transparent walls and hanging bookshelves arranged in an Escher-like fashion, it's a testament to modern design. The library houses an extensive collection of over 600,000 volumes, and the sheer scale of the building creates an immersive reading experience. The building is also home to a large collection of art and sculptures by various Mexican artists, like the one pictured above.

Image: Sintakso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Often referred to as the "Black Diamond" due to its black granite exterior, this library seamlessly blends tradition and innovation in the heart of Copenhagen. Housing around 40 million items, the Royal Library is not just a repository of books but also a cultural hub, hosting concerts, exhibitions, and events. And even if you are not a bookworm, the panoramic views of the waterfront from its windows make it a must for any visitor to Copenhagen.

Image: Abdallah Foley

A resurrection of the ancient library that once housed the knowledge of the ancient world, the modern Library of Alexandria (called Bibliotheca Alexandrina) is a symbol of Egypt's commitment to its intellectual revival. It hosts millions of books, a planetarium, and a manuscript restoration center, making it a beacon for scholars and history enthusiasts. The library also houses the International School of Information Science. This school prepares students for specialized post-graduate degrees, aiming to train library professionals in Egypt and the Middle East.

Image: Giammarco Boscaro

Located in Dublin, Ireland, and home to the famous Book of Kells, the Trinity College Library is a feast for the eyes. The Long Room, with its barrel-vaulted ceiling and marble busts of great thinkers, conjures a timeless charm. And counting among its graduates celebrated writers like Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde, this library holds a special allure for history and literature enthusiasts, making it a must-visit pilgrimage site.

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Steeped in tradition and history, Oxford’s Bodleian Library is one of the oldest in Europe and the second-largest in Britain after the British Library. With over 13 million items in its collections, including a Gutenberg Bible (one of the only 21 surviving copies) and many of Shakespeare’s original works, it's a place where every corner whispers tales of the past. Also, The Radcliffe Camera—the most iconic building in the University of Oxford—is, in fact, part of the Bodleian Library, so don’t skip it!

Image: IQRemix from Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0

If you are planning a visit to the Celestial Empire, don’t miss China’s magnificent National Library! With a collection of over 41 million items, the library is certainly a bibliophile's utopia. Besides its impressive collection, holding the largest collection of Chinese literature and historical documents in the world, it offers a serene reading and research environment. It is the perfect place to immerse oneself in the world of Chinese history. The only issue is that you definitely should learn to read Chinese beforehand!

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Found in the heart of Canberra, Australia's capital, this library is a treasure trove of the nation's history and culture. The library's striking architecture and vast collection, including rare maps and manuscripts, make it a must-visit for those eager to delve into Australia's rich literary heritage. While you should expect a large Australian collection, it also houses unique Asian and Pacific collections that give it international renown.

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It seems like the Scandinavians like to break the mold of conventional library design, and this library in Norway is no exception, being a true architectural marvel. With its timber-clad exterior and open, welcoming spaces, it is designed and projected not only as a library but as a community hub. The library seamlessly integrates with the cultural center, something more libraries should try to encourage!

Image: Donatas Dabravolskas, CC BY-SA 4.0

A hidden gem in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, this library is a celebration of Portuguese language literature and culture. An iconic landmark of the city, it has been used as a filming location for movies and TV shows because of its stunning beauty. The ornate neo-Manueline architecture (evoking a Gothic-Renaissance style), adorned with statues and intricate woodwork, transports visitors to another era. Also, the library's collection includes rare works and first editions, making it a must for bibliophiles.

Image: Y.Shishido, CC BY-SA 3.0

Tucked away in a monastery in Prague, in the Czech Republic, this library offers a glimpse into the medieval world. With over 200,000 volumes, it is one of the best-preserved historical libraries in the world. The Baroque architecture, coupled with ceiling frescoes, medieval art exhibits, as well as its many ancient manuscripts and globes, creates an atmosphere of historical charm, becoming an enchanting pilgrimage site for those seeking the quiet wisdom of centuries past.

UNTRANSLATABLE

12 Foreign Words That Will Blow Your Mind

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There is an old adage among translators that says traduttore traditore, which is Italian for "the translator is a traitor". This is because, when something is translated into another language, many subtleties and cultural associations are inevitably lost in the process - meaning that the original sense of a word or phrase can change radically.

Although most languages have millions of words, no single language can cover the entirety of human experience with the words you can find in their dictionaries. So, translators usually have terrible headaches trying to translate certain words whose meaning is incredibly difficult to convey in another language.

Here at Dictionary Scoop, we chose 10 foreign words or concepts that come into this category and cannot be easily translated without at least some context and an explanation. Feel free to use them afterward! It can be a refreshing way to think about different cultures and a great topic for conversation (perhaps during a sobremesa).

Image: Ilnur Kalimullin

I wish English had a word for this. This Spanish noun refers to the small talk or conversations that happen after a meal when everyone is still seated.

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A very useful one. This is Vietnamese for "the day after tomorrow".

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For mean people… or anyone who likes to watch videos of funny accidents (not so funny if they happen to you, certainly). This is a German word that refers to getting joy from the misfortune of others.

Image: Jordane Mathieu

This is a Swedish word that means something like "not too much and not too little, just the right amount". Why do people from northern Europe seem to have such concise words for almost philosophical concepts?

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A Dutch word that means to act convincingly as if you are doing something important, while actually doing nothing useful at all. Sort of sums up most office work.

Image: Erik van Dijk

Japanese is a beautiful language full of deeply insightful metaphors or poetic images. This word is no exception, referring specifically to the sunlight that filters through forest trees.

Image: NONRESIDENT

A fun one. This baffling Spanish adverb can mean anything from "right now" to "maybe later", or "maybe never". So if you ask someone to do you a favor and they say ahorita, don’t wait around.

Image: Patrick Slade

Often translated as päntsdrunk, this delightful Finnish word refers to the habit of drinking home alone in your underwear. The fact that this intriguing habit got its own word might have something to do with the fact that many Finns stay mostly isolated at home during Finland’s long and brutal winters. Self-isolation of people everywhere in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic created a global trend for this drinking habit, with many people embracing the kalsarikännit tradition.

Image: Al Elmes

A very wholesome word. Fargin is a Yiddish verb that means to "wholeheartedly appreciate the success of others". Kind of an antagonist to schadenfreude if you think about it.

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A German verb that literally means "to make something worse while trying to improve it". Most of us have probably been guilty of verschlimmbessern-ing some situations. Ever tried fixing a bad haircut yourself? Well, there you go.

Image: Priscilla Du Preez

I'm guilty of this myself. This Japanese expression refers to "leaving a book unread after buying it, usually piled together along with many other unread books". Book hoarders, don’t let this word apply to you.

Image: James Hose Jr

A personal favorite. This is a Portuguese word that conveys a feeling of nostalgia and bitter-sweet melancholy for something that is irretrievable, lost in time, or maybe even non-existent. Other languages have similar words, like the German word sehnsucht, or the Touareg assouf. Although English has technically no equivalent to saudade, some people say that the African-American concept of the blues can approximate the same feelings of yearning and nostalgia.

Image: JESHOOTS.COM

Languages are a complex thing, and their particular idiosyncrasies can result in baffling or even poetic misunderstandings. Sometimes these confusions can be due to a bad translation, but many times words carry over such a large burden of cultural wisdom, that it ends up rendering any translation efforts almost impossible without delving into the singular philosophies behind the words.

If you liked our selection of weird, funny, and inspiring untranslatable words from all over the world, stay around! We will keep uploading content like this.