Once Upon A Time...

Hotels had libraries! What?!

Did you know that once upon a time, hotels had libraries in them? On purpose.

In this day and age, it’s one thing to see an extra hotel spa or restaurant, but a proper library? I’m tickled this is a thing.

I know I mentioned two library-themed boutique hotels in my last post on literary travel. But after reading an article from my favorite bookish site, 1000 Libraries Magazine, it didn’t occur to me that hotel libraries were a thing long before wifi and fast and free breakfast.

And there is good news to be had: hotels are putting libraries back into their hotel designs. Thank goodness!

I’m not surprised. Digital fatigue is real, and having a library in a hotel is another way to unplug, relax, and chill out. Not everyone likes a massage or a facial from the hotel spa. Not everyone likes a fancy hotel culinary experience. Not everyone can afford either of those things. But a stop at the hotel library, a respite from fast-paced digital life even for a few hours, that comes free in most of these places.

My main curiosity about this hotel library concept: If I'm not staying at that particular hotel, can I still enjoy the library goodness? Can I pop in with no pressure to buy anything or stay in one of your rooms? I know what you're thinking: why not just go to the library, Kathleen, if that’s where your head’s going? Yes, I hear you, but sometimes I like a little bit more luxury in my life and in my reading experience. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. A beautiful, comfortable space brings me joy. My next life chapter has joy written all over it. I’m not in the business of denying myself (or anyone else, for that matter) that kind of joy.

From the article I linked to above, there are a few really cool hotel libraries that I’d like to bring to your attention.

At Zurich’s B2 Boutique Hotel, the library is a sprawling feature that contains 33,000 books. It used to be an old brewery, and there are still remnants of its old bones in the space. The room is lit with chandeliers made from beer bottles.

Here’s what their website had to say about it:

“Our library is located at the heart of the B2 hotel, opening onto the coworking space. The tall windows hint at the industrial history of the room. Nowadays, the space is used for eating, drinking, talking, laughing, and reading – simply living.

We don’t just have menus for you to read; we also have 33,000 books. As you might expect from a library, the books are there to be read. The comfortable Diesel armchairs and the crackling fireplace are the perfect setting for this.”

Awww, see what they did there? They set up beautiful conditions for reading. Yes, please.

Another cool one is the Book Hotel Jimbocho in Tokyo, Japan.

They have a whole book concierge service available. They can pair you with a book based on a questionnaire you can fill out. I don’t think I would personally partake in this service since half the fun of being in a library for me is browsing all the options. But if someone suffers from severe decision fatigue, then they will pick a book for you. Hey, I get it; I wear the same black outfit (think old school Steve Jobs) pretty much every day to avoid making clothing decisions. They also offer staff book recommendations, and each floor has a book theme (you know I love a theme!).

They even have book counseling sessions available. From what I understand, they guide you in “figuring out your life” through books. Hmmm, so interesting.

At Atria Hotel Prague, they have an intense focus on music.

From their website:

“Featuring four floors, each dedicated to a major genre of music, the Aria's accommodations pay homage to the greatest music and musicians of all time. Guest rooms on the Contemporary, Classical, Opera and Jazz floors honor each genre's greatest artists and composers with CDs, art and books.”

Books about music? And musicians? Yes, sign me up for a stay here. I would love to read more books about musicians after listening to their most famous works. I’d like to meet the curator at this hotel. I am so curious about how they selected the music genres. How did they pick the art and the books that represented the musicians? I have so many questions!?!

And one (there are probably many I’m missing) in our own backyard: The Heathman Hotel in Portland. Portland is already well-known for its place in the literary world. Hello, Powell’s Books!

But this library has a different vibe. It’s dark. Older. Historic. About its collection:

“Heathman’s literary legacy lives on in the Library, found on the mezzanine overlooking the Trade Room. Home to more than 2,700 books — including signed and first editions from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, U.S. Poet Laureates, and a former president — it’s a collection unmatched at any hotel. Stop up and take a look.”

You don’t have to tell me twice, of course; I’d love to stop “up.”

I love that hotels used to have libraries and it's making a comeback. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong time period. Take me back to when books were all we had as entertainment. My old soul would like it there.

I don’t know y’all, the universe keeps sending me these resources about literary travel. I think I’m being nudged to go on an epic literary adventure.

What do you think?