Here Are 'Georgia’s 10 Most Beautiful Public Libraries'

ATLANTA, GA -- In the world of public libraries, metro Atlanta has some real page-turners, according to those who judge the books by their covers. The Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS) has named two facilities in the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library system -- the Metropolitan Boulevard site and the Buckhead Avenue site -- as two of the "Most Beautiful Libraries" in the state.

The libraries were chosen by residents around the state who participated by submitted nominations online. The GPLS, through a panel of public library and architecture professionals, helped whittle the best 60 nominees down to 10 over three rounds of voting.

Georgia’s most beautiful libraries were recently honored at a ceremony at the Mary Willis Library — the state’s first free library and the first in the state to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is honored to have two libraries in this year’s Georgia 10 Most Beautiful Libraries listing,” said Dr. Gabriel Morley, Executive Director of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, “our Buckhead Library, located in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta and our Metropolitan Library in downtown Atlanta. Both are beautiful, impressive buildings, and help create a welcoming environment for residents of all ages to sit, read, take a class, surf the web, research their family history, or check out a favorite author. Our libraries are backdrops to so many new adventures for our patrons, we are pleased to see them recognized for the centerpieces libraries have become in our community.”

Here is the complete list of the “10 Most Beautiful Libraries in Georgia” chosen by the Georgia Public Library Service:

● The Buckhead Library (opened in 1989)

● The Mary Willis Library in Washington

● The Carnegie Branch Library in Savannah

● The Washington Memorial Library in Macon

● The St. Simons Island Public Library (1937)

● The Columbus Public Library (2005)

● The Hamilton Mill Library in Dacula (2011)

● The Dog River Public Library in Douglasville (2011)

● The Porter Memorial Library in Covington (2011)

● The Metropolitan Library in Atlanta (2015)

The GPLS invites residents to participate in the “Georgia’s 10 Most Beautiful Public Libraries” program visiting a location this summer and getting a “Library Passport” stamp along the way. The Buckhead Library and the Metropolitan Library will have the passports and stamps available upon request beginning June 1.

Image via Atlanta-Fulton Public Library