Inside the world's most incredible libraries

They are the most spectacular in the world. 

Some are fascinating old halls with wooden ladders and mesmerising ceilings that have housed literary works for centuries. Others modern masterpieces.

One of the most spectacular is the Clementinum library which features baroque halls, a collection of globes and ornate balconies lining the walls. 

Last year the glass-domed Adelaide library was named the most beautiful library in the world by Travel and Leisure. 

Featuring masonry columns, painted gold features, two galleries and wrought iron balustrading the 1884 Mortlock Wing of the South Australian State Library was honoured alongside America's Library of Congress in Washington and George Peabody Library in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

While some of the libraries are spellbinding due to their intricate decoration, such as Kloster Wiblingen Abbey in Germany, others prove that simplicity can be just as alluring. 

Take the Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart, for example, which features a regular, white design with the book covers and blue seats the only colours that stand out.

Bibliotheque Joanine shimmers with dazzling gold, whereas Tama Art University in Tokyo's grey design is enhanced by futuristic architecture.

(dailymail.co.uk)