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The World’s 100 Best Libraries · 2026

The Best Libraries in North America

24 of the 100 libraries in The World’s 100 Best Libraries 2026 are in North America, in 3 countries. The highest placed is Seattle Central Library in Seattle, United States, at number 10 in the world. Boston Public Library in Boston, United States (number 13) and Austin Central Library in Austin, United States (number 15) follow.

Seattle Central Library
N° 10 · Seattle Central Library, Seattle

United States

Eighteen libraries, from the Library of Congress and Boston Public Library to the central libraries of Seattle, Austin and Salt Lake City and the George Peabody Library in Baltimore.

Canada

Calgary Central Library, by Snøhetta and DIALOG, has a timber atrium. Vancouver Central Library is a nine-floor building that is often compared to the Colosseum. The Library of Parliament in Ottawa survived the fire of 1916, and the Maison de la littérature in Quebec City is in a former church.

Mexico

Biblioteca Vasconcelos in Mexico City has shelves that hang in a multi-level hall. Biblioteca Palafoxiana in Puebla was founded in 1646 and has cedar shelves on three levels.

Libraries

99. Cleveland Public Library 93. Providence Athenaeum 90. Toledo Main Library 89. Maison de la littérature 80. Multnomah County Central Library 74. Los Angeles Central Library 72. Indianapolis Central Library 70. Kansas City Central Library 66. Suzzallo and Allen Libraries 54. Library of Parliament 47. New York Public Library 45. Vancouver Central Library 42. Harold Washington Library Center 36. Nashville Public Library 34. George Peabody Library 31. Biblioteca Palafoxiana 26. Biblioteca Vasconcelos 23. Cerritos Library 21. Salt Lake City Public Library 19. Library of Congress 16. Calgary Central Library 15. Austin Central Library 13. Boston Public Library 10. Seattle Central Library
99. Cleveland Public Library 93. Providence Athenaeum 90. Toledo Main Library 89. Maison de la littérature 80. Multnomah County Central Library 74. Los Angeles Central Library 72. Indianapolis Central Library 70. Kansas City Central Library 66. Suzzallo and Allen Libraries 54. Library of Parliament 47. New York Public Library 45. Vancouver Central Library 42. Harold Washington Library Center 36. Nashville Public Library 34. George Peabody Library 31. Biblioteca Palafoxiana 26. Biblioteca Vasconcelos 23. Cerritos Library 21. Salt Lake City Public Library 19. Library of Congress 16. Calgary Central Library 15. Austin Central Library 13. Boston Public Library 10. Seattle Central Library
  1. Seattle Central Library N° 10 Seattle Central Library Seattle, United States Public library
  2. Boston Public Library N° 13 Boston Public Library Boston, United States Public library
  3. Austin Central Library N° 15 Austin Central Library Austin, United States Public library
  4. Calgary Central Library N° 16 Calgary Central Library Calgary, Canada Public library
  5. Library of Congress N° 19 Library of Congress Washington, DC, United States National library
  6. Salt Lake City Public Library N° 21 Salt Lake City Public Library Salt Lake City, United States Public library
  7. Cerritos Library N° 23 Cerritos Library Cerritos, United States Public library
  8. Biblioteca Vasconcelos N° 26 Biblioteca Vasconcelos Mexico City, Mexico Public library
  9. Biblioteca Palafoxiana N° 31 Biblioteca Palafoxiana Puebla, Mexico Historic library
  10. George Peabody Library N° 34 George Peabody Library Baltimore, United States University library
  11. Nashville Public Library N° 36 Nashville Public Library Nashville, United States Public library
  12. Harold Washington Library Center N° 42 Harold Washington Library Center Chicago, United States Public library
  13. Vancouver Central Library N° 45 Vancouver Central Library Vancouver, Canada Public library
  14. New York Public Library N° 47 New York Public Library New York, United States Public library
  15. Library of Parliament N° 54 Library of Parliament Ottawa, Canada Historic library
  16. Suzzallo and Allen Libraries N° 66 Suzzallo and Allen Libraries Seattle, United States University library
  17. Kansas City Central Library N° 70 Kansas City Central Library Kansas City, United States Public library
  18. Indianapolis Central Library N° 72 Indianapolis Central Library Indianapolis, United States Public library
  19. Los Angeles Central Library N° 74 Los Angeles Central Library Los Angeles, United States Public library
  20. Multnomah County Central Library N° 80 Multnomah County Central Library Portland, United States Public library
  21. Maison de la littérature N° 89 Maison de la littérature Quebec City, Canada Public library
  22. Toledo Main Library N° 90 Toledo Main Library Toledo, United States Public library
  23. Providence Athenaeum N° 93 Providence Athenaeum Providence, United States Historic library
  24. Cleveland Public Library N° 99 Cleveland Public Library Cleveland, United States 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