Founded in the summer of 2017 from a small apartment in Brooklyn, New York, Accidentally Wes Anderson (AWA) has grown to inspire a global community of more than 1 million Adventurers. Intrigued by the image and delighted by the details, the site’s contributors seek and share the most beautiful, idiosyncratic and interesting places on earth while uncovering unique and unexpected stories behind the facades. Here is a curated selection of libraries found around the world. Discover more @accidentallywesanderson
Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Delaware Historical Society Research Library
Photo credit: Evan Lober
Founded in 1864, the Delaware Historical Society (DHS) was initially created to preserve materials related to the American Civil War.
Sigtuna, Sweden
Bokkiosk
Photo credit: Sarah Malpas
Opened every April 23 on World Book Day, these tiny libraries in Sweden reside in former telephone booths.
Bucharest, Romania
Cărturești Carusel
Photo credit: Waqar Ahmad
This bookstore in Bucharest, Romania, confiscated by the Communists in the 1940s, has been home to a bank, a men’s clothing store and a department store.
Kent, England
Leeds Castle
Photo credit: Elena Shamis
The library in this castle in Kent, which has been home to royalty since the 13th century, served as a field hospital in World War II.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
National Library of Cambodia
Photo credit: Adrienne Shapiro
Only 20 percent of its original collection remains, but this National Library’s aesthetic harkens back to a bygone era when freedom of information was not so free.
Wandiligong, Victoria, Australia
Public Library of Wandiligong
Photo credit: Bertie Powell
This public library is one of many preserved historical buildings in the long-forgotten gold mining settlement of Wandiligong in Victoria.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Real Gabinete Português de Leitura
Photo credit: Yuri Seródio
Ranked as the fourth most beautiful library in the world by Time magazine, this Brazilian library is also a national cultural heritage site.
Görlitz, Germany
Upper Lausitzian Library of Sciences
Photo credit: Yura Ukhorskiy
Once the private library of the bourgeoisie and enlightened nobility, this 18th century library in Görlitz was originally established as a scientific society for Middle Europe.
The AWA Team invites you to continue the Adventure at accidentallywesanderson.com.
