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6 Reasons to Add the Albena Beach Library to Your Bookish Bucket List
"No shirt, no shoes, no service" doesn't apply at the Albenia Beach Library. The beachfront library's location—on the coast of the Black Sea—isn't an easy trip for most readers, but that's what bookish bucket lists are for. (And if you don't have a bookish bucket list, this place is a great excuse to start one, don't you think?)
Reason #1: The library holds over 6,000 books in more than 15 different languages.
German architect Herman Kompernas designed the library to foster a love of reading among tourists. The diverse books are arranged by country of publication in order to make discovery easier for readers from around the world.
Reason #2: Waves crash a few feet from the shelves.
See this young girl? She's probably doing some serious browsing before taking a quick dip in the water. Not a bad vacation life at all.
Reason #3: The books are free!
Like most libraries, you don't have to pay to indulge in your reading passion; but unlike most libraries, there's only a loose suggestion that books be returned. Obviously, a band of villainous book thieves would be devastating to the inventory, but the Beach Library wants to promote the love of reading—not the love of returning books on time. If you "accidentally" take a book home with you, the library police won't be after you.
Reason #4: The bookshelves are resistant to sun, wind, and rain.
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor accidentally spilled sunscreen can keep this library from its sacred duty. Kompernas and his team built the 140 bright white bookshelves out of a special material that is resistant to sun and wind. In addition, each shelving unit has a vinyl covering for rainy days.
Reason #5: The inventory is constantly expanding because tourists often donate their own books before they go home.
Spreading the love of reading is contagious. After benefitting from a vacation full of free books, tourists can't help but pass on the awesome. "The library is getting richer because of our guests," Yovka Strashilova, Albena's deputy manager, proudly boasts.
Reason #6: The library is surrounded by beach chairs.
Once you pick up a stack of books from the Beach Library, you won't have to look long for a perfect reading spot. Beach chairs and umbrellas stretch out as far as the eye can see. This is what summer reading dreams are made of.
What other places are on your bookish bucket list? Let us know in the comments!
Comments Showing 1-50 of 95 (95 new)
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Michelle
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Aug 07, 2015 12:24PM
Just found my next holiday destination!
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Post their address and I will send them a copy of Sweet Second Chance by Jackie Fancher!
This is such a clever idea, and I love that people can borrow the books for free. You could really convert non-book readers that way :)
As the article doesn't mention it - the resort is located in Bulgaria :) It's an awesome idea, I love it!
That sounds amazingly fun! I'd love to visit there!
Do you know http://www.bookcrossing.com/ ? I have tried it, but my hometown doesn't seem to be particularly good at protecting books from bad weather and public buildings are full of overeager cleaners.
I love the idea but won't the Millennials prefer an internet hotspot so they can download "print media" on the latest e-reader du jour? Technology is quickly making brick and mortar book stores obsolete. I'm still holding out (as I hoist my leather-bound tome with it's gilt edges and silk ribbon bookmark).
That's awesome and wish I could read some books there as well as donate some of my own!
Am I the only one that thought that some of the books in the picture looked interesting? I could read the titles, so I'm looking them up now. And this is so awesome I wish there was something like this in my town.
How Fantastic. We couldn't do that here because of all the rain!!Wonderful idea.
Before reading this post, I had no idea such a place existed. I definitely think it's adding itself to the list of places to visit for sure!
What a beautiful idea! Sea, sun, happy people and loads of books. This world just doesn't run out of places to love. Was für eine großartige Idee! Das Meer, die Sonne, glückliche Menschen und jede Menge Bücher. Auf dieser Welt finden sich immer wieder Orte, in die man sich verlieben kann.
Die letzte Heimat
What a wonderful idea and a great architect (for thinking about sepcial material being needed to make she shelves resistant to all kinds of weather)!Every beach needs this!
Should be more places like this in the world!
this is like 2 hours away from my city in romania, i'm so going
The shelves may be sun, wind, and water-resistant, but the books aren't.
Neat idea, but I wonder how the books will hold up?
The wrote: "The shelves may be sun, wind, and water-resistant, but the books aren't."the shelves have clear
#4 "In addition, each shelving unit has a vinyl covering for rainy days."
Gemma wrote: "S.W. wrote: "I love the idea but won't the Millennials prefer an internet hotspot so they can download "print media" on the latest e-reader du jour? Technology is quickly making brick and mortar l..."As a long-time teen librarian, I find that teens, tweens, (and younger) still prefer print books to ereaders. Oddly, it's the seniors who love the readers...probably because they can adjust the print size from regular to Wambo with a swipe of the finger.
They have got to make one in America or Canada!I live in Canada so it's a 12hr flight to Albena.
ARGH!
Oh my God, I go to Albena every year because I live so close to it and it's such a pleasant surprise to see it on the main page of goodreads! It was in this library that I found my favourite book The Master and Margarita. I fell in love with it so I kept it but I donated two others after that. Right now I'm actually reading a book I got from the second library there (which you don't see pictured here, it's a little bit smaller but still awesome). Here's an interesting fact - the name Albena was created by the Bulgarian author Yordan Yovkov and it's the title of his book. He took the name Ablena and switched the letters. So you should definitely come and visit if you can!
Kevin wrote: "What is the salt air doing to the paper......"The books are actually in a pretty good condition! You can definitely tell they've been out in the sun, the covers may be a little faded and the pages a bit yellow-y but I think it's their charm. And it will always bring you memories of summer (if you decide to take the book that is).
very yearning place, the sunshine,the beach and books
The Moravian Bookstore in Bethlehem, PA is on my bookish bucket list. It's the oldest bookstore in the United States.
What an amazing idea!I've been thinking of redesigning my front yard with a small "Take a Book, Leave a Book" library, a strawberry patch and a few benches. Just a place where folks can sit and read, kids can pick strawberries and all of it free.
I love the idea of free books and places parents can take their kids that are both fun and won't cost any money.
That's an awesome beach library.What a relaxing way to spend a holiday.
A similar pilot program was launched here in Auckland (New Zealand) during last Christmas holidays (summer down under).It even offered free internet access to allow library customers the convenience of free e-books and audiobooks download at popular summer spots (beaches and parks).
Link to local article here
I think it's an awesome idea!
I was there this summer. Albena is not a very interesting place, but the beach and the library is great!
Kiwi wrote: "A similar pilot program was launched here in Auckland (New Zealand) during last Christmas holidays (summer down under).It even offered free internet access to allow library customers the convenie..."
This sounds fantastic! We need more places like this ALL OVER THE WORLD! I could even do without the wifi, although I do see the benefits regarding ebooks.
and i used to be a non believer of the "love at first sight" concept , clearly i was wrong <3
S.W. wrote: "I love the idea but won't the Millennials prefer an internet hotspot so they can download "print media" on the latest e-reader du jour? Technology is quickly making brick and mortar libraries obso..."I think you'd be surprised the number of people who still like the 'feel' of physical books or the look of them even among Millennials. Most of the people my age seem to read a mixture of e-books and physical books. E-books are nice because there's a growing number of subscription services and a lot of really cheap books you can get on Amazon for example especially for certain genres (romance especially,)
But, yeah, I don't think it's that unusual for people to still like print books even with the advent of ebooks.
That is a truly wonderful idea. Maybe if there were more places like this in the world it would be a happier place for everyone.
Maria Grazia wrote: "Should be more places like this in the world!"I can think of a couple places where this idea would work.
