Walking into the John Ryland's Library, I could have shed tears. It was just so beautiful. It was easily the most beautiful library I've ever visited, and I have visited quite a few libraries around the world. Ok, maybe not many, but quite a few! And this one was totally a religious experience for me! I was so happy that someone love reading and books so much they dedicated such a wonderful place to be a library. I mean, library don't actually make money. It was a place dedicated to knowledge, and I simply love that. And yes, it was free to visit.
So let me start from the beginning as we enter. The humble door was to the right of this photo. And there was a white figure statue in front, and another at the end of the library hall. They are John Ryland and his wife Enriqueta. How lovely. I actually just found that out after googling it. I didn't know about it when I was visiting cause I've really lazy to reading plates and information. At the front of the library is also where the librarian room and counters are.
The front wall has quite a lot going on, with clocks, and doors that looked almost like a prison cells. There was also a huge door that says Librarian on it. There were some stained glass at the top, but it was hard to see the illustration on it.
Ah, here is the librarian door, lol. Isn't it cool to be a librarian at this grand old building? I don't mind being a librarian. Apparently you need a masters in Librarian Science to be a librarian these days. Ha!
The hall way inside the library. Love the bright red carpets, and the lightings that looked like candlelights along the hall way. At both sides of the main halls are reading shelves and reading corners. There is also an upper floor, but it was closed for renovation when we were there.
Here's a more central photo of the library from the front to the back. How lovely.
Here is a more triangle view of the place, showing more of the upper floor.
At the end of the library is a statue of John Ryland, and behind him a lovely oval shaped corner filled with books.
Here are some of the quieter corners where people could sit and read. There are glass shelves showing some booked and documents. I didn't really paid attention as I was too in awed by the library itself as a whole I didn't have the capacity to appreciate the smaller details of the place.
There were quite a number of people either working and reading inside the library. Even still, there were still empty chairs available. If I lived in Manchester, I would be here everyday! Soaking in all the beauty of this place. The most beautiful library in Singapore, is actually the super small library inside the National Gallery. I would love to go inside, but you needed an appointment to be able to enter, and I doubt me just wanting to visit would grant me access to the place......
More bookshelves. To be frank, it was not a huge library, but it was for sure the most beautiful I've seen.
Even the old wooden catalog area, which I am sure nobody uses it any more, is kept in a corner.
There were some girls taking selfies at the end oval corner of the library. They were there like, forever! So I had to take a photo with them inside.
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