How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles? More than you think. Only if you know where to go.
在iPad和Kindle的时代，图书馆能有多酷？其实远超你的想象，只要你知道该去哪儿。
1. Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
1. 中央图书馆：美国华盛顿州西雅图市
The Central Library in Seattle is sleek, modern and sophisticated and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. Yes, actual tours.
西雅图的中央图书馆时尚现代而且精致，吸引了来自世界各地的游客前来观光。没错，真正的观光。
In its first year, more than 2 million tourists visited the library, which was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.
这座图书馆建成的第一年，就迎来了超过200万游客前来参观。图书馆的设计者是荷兰建筑师雷姆·库哈斯和美国设计师乔舒亚·拉莫斯。在2006年也就是图书馆开放两年后，开始正式接受游客参观。
The library was voted onto the American Institute of Architects 150 favorite structures in the United States.
在美国建筑师学会票选出的美国人150座最喜爱的建筑中，这座图书馆榜上有名。
The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events throughout the year, while visitors can stop by the Chocolati cart for a coffee and browse through the gift shop anytime.
中央图书馆一年到头举办各类艺术展、图书签售会等活动，不论何时，游客都可以在Chocolati 咖啡吧里停下来喝杯咖啡，浏览一下礼品店。

2. Trinity College Library: Dublin, Ireland
2. 圣三一学院图书馆：爱尔兰都柏林
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I.
位于都柏林的圣三一学院图书馆是爱尔兰最古老的图书馆，由伊丽莎白一世女王主持建于1592年。
Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books.
图书馆不仅是外形让人印象深刻，它还是世界上最大的单体图书馆，被称为“长厅”，收藏了20万本图书馆最古老的书。
The Long Room houses one of the oldest harps in Ireland. Dating to the 15th century, the oak harp is the model for the emblem of Ireland.
爱尔兰最古老的竖琴之一也存放于“长厅”。这架竖琴诞生于15世纪，是爱尔兰象征的标志。

3. Geisel Library, University of California: San Diego, United States
3. 加州大学盖泽尔图书馆：美国圣地亚哥
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship.
第一眼看上去，这座图书馆好像一艘宇宙飞船。
Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels.
这座图书馆是建筑师威廉姆·佩雷拉在1970年设计的，他曾协助设计位于德克萨斯州休斯敦市卡纳维拉尔角的空间发射站。这座图书馆在许多科幻电影、短篇故事和小说里出现过。
If you need a hint of which film, think of Leonardo DeCaprio, dreams and a lot of snow.
如果你想知道是哪部电影，提示是莱昂纳多、梦和很多雪花。
Yes, the snow fortress in the film "Inception" looks a lot like the Geisel Library.
没错，《盗梦空间》里雪地里的堡垒那个场景，看起来就很像是盖泽尔图书馆。
But of course, it's not just the exterior that's interesting. The library also hosts "Dinner in the Library," which invites readers for cocktails, a silent auction and also a special speech from prominent authors.
当然这座图书馆并不止是外表有趣。它还举办“图书馆晚宴”，邀请读者来喝鸡尾酒，同时还有一场无声拍卖会和杰出作家的特别演讲。

4. TU Delft Library: The Netherlands
4. 代尔夫特理工大学图书馆：荷兰
he library at the Delft University of Technology was constructed in 1997 and has more than 862,000 books, 16,000 magazine subscriptions and its own museum. But it will only take a glance to be mesmerized, as it is a sight to remember.
代尔夫特理工大学的图书馆建于1997年，有86.2万本藏书，1万6千份杂志和自己的博物馆。但你只需要看上一眼就会对它印象深刻
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.
这座建筑位于地下，因此你无法真正看见它。有意思的是：它的屋顶是一座长满草的山坡。
A huge cone pierces the grass roof, which symbolizes technology.
一个象征科技的巨大圆锥体穿过这片青草屋顶。
The roof covers 5,500 square meters. Construction of the roof posed several difficulties in terms of maintenence and leakage, but it has become one of the most striking and greenest structures in the area.
屋顶有5500平方米。它的修建曾经面临一些维护和漏水的难题，但现在它已经是该地区最显眼也最绿色的建筑之一。

5. Bibliotheca Alexandrina: Alexandria, Egypt
5. 亚历山大图书馆：埃及亚历山大
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.
亚历山大图书馆是在古代亚历山大图书馆基础上进心的重建，古亚历山大图书馆曾是希腊语世界最大最具影响力的图书馆，由亚历山大大帝建于约2300年前。
The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction.
新图书馆2002年在地中海岸建成，历经了10年的设计、计划和建设。
Along with the standard libraries with books, there are four museums covering antiquities, manuscripts and science, and also 15 permanent exhibitions, including "Impressions of Alexandria," "Arabic Calligraphy" and "The History of Printing."
除了藏书之外，这座图书馆还有四座博物馆，收藏了文物、手稿和一些科学展品，还有15场永久展览，包括“亚历山大印象”，“阿拉伯书法” 和 “印刷的历史” 等书画。
With its circular yet tilting form, the library looks like a modern painting. Various carvings and alphabetic inscriptions decorate the flatter side of the building, which the designers explain is "a careful display of the library's basic proviso: language."
图书馆的外形呈圆形且有倾斜度，好像一副现代绘画。较平的一面装饰有各种雕刻和字母碑文，设计师解释说是“对图书馆的基础也就是语言的展示”。

6. Stuttgart City Library: Stuttgart, Germany
6. 斯图加特城市图书馆：德国斯图加特
The Stuttgart City Library is controversial. Some say it's innovative, while others say it doesn't match its environment.
斯图加特城市图书馆富有争议。有人说它非常创新，有人说它和环境格格不入。
Nevertheless, the library is one of the most interesting buildings in the area, along with the Porsche Museum nearby.
不管怎么说，这座图书馆和它附近的保时捷博物馆一样，都是它所在区域内最有趣的建筑之一。
Designed by Korean-born, Germany-based architect Yi Eun-young, the design of the cubic facility was influenced by the ancient Pantheon in Rome. It features a linear-shaped "heart," which serves as a multi-story meeting space that draws natural sunlight through the roof.
设计师是成长在德国的韩裔建筑师Yi Eun-young，立方体的造型设计受到了罗马古万神殿的影响。在多层楼交汇的空间有一个流线型的“心”，收集着从屋顶照进来的自然阳光。
The space throws various events, including book signings, readings and exhibitions.
这一片空间用来举办各种活动，包括图书签售会、读书会和展览。
The white and silver library may not fit perfectly with the green trees and red-roofed houses around the city, but it does stand out.
这座银白色的图书馆也许和这座城市的绿树还有红屋顶的房子不太协调，但它确实很显眼。

7. Bishan Public Library, Singapore
7. 璧山公共图书馆：新加坡
Located in the heart of Bishan, the award-winning Bishan Community Library spans 4,000 square meters.
这座得过奖的社区图书馆位于璧山中心地带，占地4000平方米。
Simple and sophisticated, it was designed to look like a tree house.
它的设计简约而又精致，看起来像一座树上小屋。
The colorful pods that stick out of one side of the building represent books protruding from a bookshelf. Inside the library, these pods offer private spaces for reading. Not to mention a perfect place to hold seminars, readings and workshops.
那些从建筑的一面伸出来的彩色部分，代表了从书架上抽出的书。而在图书馆内部，这些部分为阅读者提供了私人空间。这也是举办研讨会、读书会和工作坊的完美地点。
Its ceiling-high glass windows also make it fun to watch people walking and reading from inside the building.
天花板高度的玻璃窗可以让你看着人们在图书馆内行走和阅读，十分有趣。