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The World’s 100 Best Libraries · 2026

The Best Libraries in Asia

15 of the 100 libraries in The World’s 100 Best Libraries 2026 are in Asia, in 5 countries. The highest placed is Ishikawa Prefectural Library in Kanazawa, Japan, at number 18 in the world. Yusuhara Community Library in Yusuhara, Japan (number 37) and Taoyuan Public Library in Taoyuan, Taiwan (number 38) follow.

Ishikawa Prefectural Library
N° 18 · Ishikawa Prefectural Library, Kanazawa

Japan

Seven libraries, most of them built since 2000: Ishikawa Prefectural Library near Kanazawa, Gifu Media Cosmos, Toyama City Public Library, Nakajima Library in Akita, and the libraries of Yusuhara, Takeo and Miyakonojo.

Taiwan

Beitou Library and Daxian Library in Taipei, Taoyuan Public Library, Kaohsiung Main Public Library and the pyramid-shaped library of National Taitung University.

Korea, China and Sri Lanka

Starfield Library is inside COEX Mall in Seoul, with three 13-metre bookshelves under a glass roof. Guangzhou Library is a ten-storey building of 2012 in Zhujiang New Town. Jaffna Public Library is a white building in Indo-Saracenic style.

Libraries

100. Guangzhou Library 94. Jaffna Public Library 84. Miyakonojo City Library 83. Toyama City Public Library 82. National Taitung University Library 78. Takeo City Library 69. Nakajima Library 53. Gifu Media Cosmos 50. Kaohsiung Main Public Library 46. Beitou Library 43. Daxian Library 39. Starfield Library 38. Taoyuan Public Library 37. Yusuhara Community Library 18. Ishikawa Prefectural Library
100. Guangzhou Library 94. Jaffna Public Library 84. Miyakonojo City Library 83. Toyama City Public Library 82. National Taitung University Library 78. Takeo City Library 69. Nakajima Library 53. Gifu Media Cosmos 50. Kaohsiung Main Public Library 46. Beitou Library 43. Daxian Library 39. Starfield Library 38. Taoyuan Public Library 37. Yusuhara Community Library 18. Ishikawa Prefectural Library
  1. Ishikawa Prefectural Library N° 18 Ishikawa Prefectural Library Kanazawa, Japan Public library
  2. Yusuhara Community Library N° 37 Yusuhara Community Library Yusuhara, Japan Public library
  3. Taoyuan Public Library N° 38 Taoyuan Public Library Taoyuan, Taiwan Public library
  4. Starfield Library N° 39 Starfield Library Seoul, South Korea Public library
  5. Daxian Library N° 43 Daxian Library Taipei, Taiwan University library
  6. Beitou Library N° 46 Beitou Library Taipei, Taiwan Public library
  7. Kaohsiung Main Public Library N° 50 Kaohsiung Main Public Library Kaohsiung, Taiwan Public library
  8. Gifu Media Cosmos N° 53 Gifu Media Cosmos Gifu, Japan Public library
  9. Nakajima Library N° 69 Nakajima Library Akita, Japan University library
  10. Takeo City Library N° 78 Takeo City Library Takeo, Japan Public library
  11. National Taitung University Library N° 82 National Taitung University Library Taitung, Taiwan University library
  12. Toyama City Public Library N° 83 Toyama City Public Library Toyama, Japan Public library
  13. Miyakonojo City Library N° 84 Miyakonojo City Library Miyakonojo, Japan Public library
  14. Jaffna Public Library N° 94 Jaffna Public Library Jaffna, Sri Lanka Public library
  15. Guangzhou Library N° 100 Guangzhou Library Guangzhou, China Public library

Best by region

  1. The NordicsDeichman BjørvikaOslo, NorwayN° 2
  2. EuropeState Hall of the Austrian National LibraryVienna, AustriaN° 1
  3. AsiaIshikawa Prefectural LibraryKanazawa, JapanN° 18
  4. The Middle EastQatar National LibraryDoha, QatarN° 3
  5. North AmericaSeattle Central LibrarySeattle, United StatesN° 10
  6. Latin AmericaRoyal Portuguese Cabinet of ReadingRio de Janeiro, BrazilN° 14
  7. OceaniaState Library VictoriaMelbourne, AustraliaN° 12

Best by country

  1. United StatesSeattle Central LibrarySeattleN° 10
  2. JapanIshikawa Prefectural LibraryKanazawaN° 18
  3. NetherlandsNeude LibraryUtrechtN° 25
  4. TaiwanTaoyuan Public LibraryTaoyuanN° 38