world's most beautiful bookstores

More eye candy, flavorwire's most beautiful bookstores slide show here:
http://flavorwire.com/254434/the-20-most-beautiful-bookstores-in-the-world

Hm...

http://www.librarything.com/topic/132134

;-)

#2 thanks, didn't notice that. I must admit that I don't get to a lot of the groups on a regular basis. I wouldn't be surprised if the article weren't already mentioned in 15 other groups by now.

It's worth it! B-)

>3 yolana:
Better posted twice than not at all.

Os.

I wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't posted here, so thanks! Also, WOW!

Beautiful! Thanks for posting this! On my next trip to Southern California, I'm going to look up the LA and Ojai shops!

Here are some bookstore- and book-related pictures that I took on my last trip to Mexico City:

The first set is of the branch of "Fondo de Cultura Ecónomica" in the Polanco neighborhood:

The next set is of the branch of "El Péndulo" in the Roma Norte neighborhood:

The next set is a sculpture made of books, "Cascada de libros" ("Book waterfall") by Alicia Martín, outside the "Gandhi" bookstore at Miguel Ángel de Quevedo:

The final set is of "Las Tres Cruces", a used bookstore in the Coyoacán borough. This is what I fear (or hope?) my house might look like some day (though I wouldn't mind something like the 3-story staircase/bookcase at the Péndulo either):

The new-book stores are prettier to look at, but the used-book stores (and there are a ton more like "Las Tres Cruces" in Mexico City, though probably none of them as well-illuminated) are where it's more fun to hunt for old treasures at bargain prices.

That's a cool set of photos - particularly El Pendulo. How do you access the books? Long arms? Ropes? Small boys shinnying up the stacks?

I used to know one or two places like Las Tres Cruces in S E England but all have disappeared, driven out by high commercial rents for the most part. Sad!

Haha, good question. My guess is that it's probably just stock that they have multiple copies of below.

My first thought on the last set was that I liked the strategic placement of the fire extinguishers. Then I thought, "Arghhh, what if there's a fire?"

Fire extinguishers make a hell of a mess. I know this for a fact. Fortunately I've only ever used one 'for real' in my kitchen, not in my library!

Perish the thought! But I guess in this case it would still be better than a sprinkler system? Yikes.