How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles? More than you think, if you know where to go.

Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland

Old, yes. Boring, no. It is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Not only is the outside impressive, it boasts the largest single room library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.

Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, U. S.

Named after Geisel and designed in the late 1960s, San Diego’s Geisel Library is one of the most modern library buildings in the world. At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.

But of course, it’s not just the outside that’s interesting. The library also hosts “Dinner in the Library,” which invites readers for cocktails and also a special speech from excellent authors.

TU Delft Library: The Netherlands

The library was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books and its own museum. The building itself exists beneath the ground, so you can’t really see the actual library. What makes it interesting is the roof, which is a grassy hill. The roof covers 5,500 square meters and has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Alexandria, Egypt

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the revival of the ancient Royal Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some 2,300 years ago. The new library was reborn in 2002 after 10 years of designing, planning and construction. With its rounded yet tilting(倾斜) form, the library looks like a modern painting.

【小题1】What can readers do in Geisel Library?

A．Dine with librarians.	B．Enjoy a special speech.
C．Invite friends to dance.	D．Experience a spaceship ride.

【小题2】Who would prefer to go to TU Delft Library?

A．A garden worker.	B．A language learner.
C．An architecture student.	D．A scholar of literature.

【小题3】Which library has the longest history?

A．Trinity College Library.	B．Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
C．TU Delft Library.	D．Geisel Library.