GroshLink

Today Penn State returns from spring break.  But I'm afraid that none of the students on the various campuses (or on many other institutions in the system of American higher education) will return to a library such as those found in Librophiliac Love Letter: A Compendium of Beautiful Libraries (Note: there are a few American libraries which make the compendium). 

Do you think working in such libraries opens up the life of the mind, imagination? How do utility and beauty vie with one-another when considering the construction of institutions in higher education?  Are such libraries a thing of the past, the dark ages from dead traditions which gave more space and placed more value upon beauty ;-)  Any votes on which library posted on the site should be listed as most beautiful or is comparision not even possible?