Libraries are dying? Think again

In honor of National Library Week, CNN iReport asked photographers, architecture aficionados and book lovers to share photos of their most favorite libraries such as this photograph of the University Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by Glenn Nagel. The library was founded in 1867 and actually predates the university. Today, the University Library holds more than 13 million volumes and is known for allowing all members of the community to view its collection onsite.

Salt Lake City's Main Library was designed to reflect the idea that a library should be more than a "repository of books and computers." Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the library contains a six-story curving and walkable wall, a 300-seat auditorium and a roof-top garden that offers a 360-degree view Salt Lake Valley. Oh, it also has 500,000 books and materials it houses.

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum is part of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas. Replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room are on display in the museum, and documents from the Clinton administration are accessible to the public through the library.

The State Law Library of the Kentucky Court of Justice has provided judges with legal research and reference materials for more than a century. Rare books, Kentucky Statutes from 1801 and biographies of famous Kentuckians are among some of the materials found in the library's collection.

William Rainey Harper Memorial Library at the University of Chicago was turned into a 24-hour study space and cafe back in December 2009, which increased its popularity as a spot to cram for exams.

The main public library in San Antonio was designed to tap into the city's Hispanic heritage, according to Robey Architecture Inc.'s website. "I found touring and photographing the building to be well worth the trip," Glenn Nagel said.

A ceiling clock can be seen in the rotunda of Lexington Public Library in Lexington, Kentucky.

Jason Mrachina said the most interesting features of the Iowa State Law Library were the "winding staircases on the north and south ends of the library." Decorated with chandeliers and now-electrified sconces, the library boasts a collection of bound leather case law books. "This place is both immaculate and awe-inspiring," Mrachina said.

Julee Khoo says visiting the Library of Congress is a must if you're planning a trip to Washington. "Call me biased, but I think this is one of the most impressive libraries in the world." It's actually the largest library in the world, holding more that 158 million items that include over 36 million cataloged books and print materials in 470 languages.

Jill Thornton's favorite place to tour in London is the British Library. "I've been there twice, and both times have been completely blown away by the texts, maps, artifacts and other pieces of the past that pull you right into the midst of history," she said. The library receives a copy of every publication produced in the United Kingdom and has a collection of more than 150 million items in most known languages.

The Beitou Branch of the Taipei Public Library in Taiwan looks like a tree house and is known for being green. The building's sloping turf roof drains rainwater into recycling troughs and captures solar energy. These are just some of the building's ecofriendly features.

The library of the National Palace in Mafra, Portugal, is embellished with marble and contains 35,000 volumes, which include a trilingual Bible from 1514 and the earliest edition of Homer in Greek.

Professional photographer Mel Ashar discovered the Mill Valley Public Library in California, and "was so inspired by the natural beauty and surroundings of this place." He says the "library has modern, lodge-like interiors with high ceilings, polished hardwood floors and classy wooden furniture."

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is home to the National Art Library that is open to the public as a major reference on fine and decorative arts across the world.

Joel Camaya, a Catholic priest living in Rome, describes the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building as "a quiet spot in busy Manhattan

Living in Rome, Camaya goes to the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome every day to study. He recommends its library to anyone interested in learning about the history or scientific study of the Bible.

The Central Library, part of the San Diego public library system, took 30 years to complete. Its most prominent feature, a steel dome 143 feet in diameter, is larger than the U.S. Capital and Pantheon in Rome.

Pham Thi Le Thuy studied at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands for a year and described the library as looking "ancient outside but modern inside."

What Steffen Ramsaier loves about Stuttgart's Municipal Library in Germany is its clean architecture. The nine-story library was completed in 2011 and designed to be "a new intellectual and cultural centre."

Weffy Müller says that the architecture of the Shanghai Library isn't as impressive as some of the libraries she's visited, but "the amount of the collection is quite amazing." According to Shanghai Expat, the library has books that cannot be found anywhere else in China. Click on the double arrows below to see more beautiful photos of libraries.

The Bodleian Library is Oxford University's main research library, and one of the six Legal Deposit libraries. Legal Deposit, part of English law since 1662, ensures that everything published in the nation is collected and retained in libraries as part of the national public archive.

The theological hall library at Strahov Monastery in Prague "is visually stunning and in great condition," Anusha Mookherjee said. She visited the monastery while on a family trip to the Czech Republic with her family. "It is a historical site and has a lot of well-known books preserved," she said. "You cannot touch any of the books."

The Vancouver Public Library is the third-largest public library system in Canada with more than 6.9 million visitors. Known for more than just its books and amenities such as retail and day care resources, the library has also been featured on television shows such as "Battlestar Galactica," "Caprica" and "Fringe."

Chetham's Library in Manchester, England, is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world. Entrance to the library is donation-based, and its collection has been designated one of national and international importance.

The Trinity College Library in Dublin, also known as the "Old Library," is famous for housing the 9th-Century gospel manuscript the Book of Kells. At the heart of the Old Library is the Long Room, which is filled with 200,000 of the library's oldest books.

The Bibliothèque-Musée de l'Opéra in Paris houses musical documents and other materials from the Opera and Opera-Comique.

Have a...swim? The Carnegie of Homestead not only has a library fully accessible to the community, but also an athletic club and pool that people can purchase day passes or monthly memberships to use.

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• National Library Week is observed from April 13 through 19


• Despite the rise of the Internet, libraries continue to be popular public spaces


• iReporters from across the world share photos of their favorite libraries to visit

In honor of National Library Week, CNN iReport is asking people to share photos of their favorite libraries. Share your best photos here.

(CNN) -- Like many visitors in Seattle, Glenn Nagel found himself in the city trying to avoid the rain. After wandering around, he eventually made his way to the Seattle Public Library to escape the dreary weather.

Little did he know that stepping into Seattle's Central Library would spark his curiosity. The library's geometric glass and steel interior with its sprawling "books spiral" grabbed ahold of him.

"It's just an incredible building," he said, still remembering his awe during that 2013 trip. "I spent an hour and a half just taking pictures, and while doing that, I was getting the idea that I should visit other libraries."

This past year, Nagel has traveled to 12 libraries across the United States, photographing their shelves and hallways like an explorer. He's one of many people discovering a renewed fascination with libraries. He and other iReporters shared photos of libraries they visited with CNN iReport for National Library Week, observed April 13-19 this year.

Despite the expansive digitalization of information, the use of public libraries remains popular, according to Cathy De Rosa, vice president for the Americas and global vice president of marketing at OCLC, a nonprofit computer library service organization.

"It surprises people," she said, explaining there's a presumption amongst the public that libraries are becoming increasingly irrelevant.

But despite enduring budget cutbacks and being forced to reinvent their services in the face of the ubiquitous Internet, public libraries remain staple institutions in various communities. There's been an increase in the use of public libraries in the U.S. over the past decade. Services such as public computers doubled in usage in the past 10 years, and libraries saw a circulation increase of 2.46 billion materials in 2010, the highest ever reported, according to a report by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Some libraries bring in more than just patrons. They are also popular amongst tourists, drawing visitors by the tens of thousands, if not millions.

The Seattle Public Library system, for example, attracts more than 7 million people through its doors each year. "The Central Library is one of the most beautiful modern buildings in Seattle, and it really celebrates the people," said Andra Addison, a spokesperson for the library.

Smaller libraries matter, too

Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their community, according to findings by the Pew Research Center. In fact, 94% of people polled in 2013 said that having a public library improves the quality of life in a community.

Jennifer Roberts, a writing teacher, agrees. She spent many summer days with her daughters, Lucy and Miriam, visiting their local library in Grants Pass, Oregon. But in 2007, all the libraries in Josephine County closed down for a number of reasons.

It devastated her daughters who were then 7 and 5. "Lucy told me she was really sad she wouldn't get to 'visit the books,' " Roberts said, remembering her daughter sobbing at the news.

Roberts was determined to find a way to help reopen the libraries in her area. The community banded together to raise $300,000 in 18 months. They even got a matching grant from Josephine County, which helped the libraries reopen.

A library is an invitational space. Anybody and everybody is invited to come in and you have the freedom to explore ideas.

Barbara Stripling, American Library Association

The experience helped Roberts rediscover the value of her local library. "I actually didn't grow up visiting many libraries," she said. "I didn't discover that wonder until I was much older. Perhaps that's why they seem so magical to me now."

'Libraries reflect who we are'

Robert Dawson wanted to capture the value of public libraries through his lens. He spent the past 18 years photographing libraries and interviewing people who work and use them. In his recently published book, "The Public Library: A Photographic Essay," which includes hundreds of photographs of libraries in 48 states, Dawson says he was drawn to libraries because they are vital part of a community's ecosystem.

"Often times, a library reveals things about a community. It was really sad to see a closed library when I was passing through the Mississippi Delta," he said, explaining how that was one of the poorer regions he visited.

Robert Dawson visited a library built by ex-slaves, Allensworth, California.

"I am not a librarian, but 18 years of doing this, you peel away things," he said. "It's interesting how libraries reflect who we are, and what we share.

Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association, says libraries are also incredibly transformative. These spaces offer not only information but also provide resources and opportunities to socialize.

Some libraries are "becoming more of a community sharing, learning, conversation space," she explained. Programs such as the Chicago Public Library's One Book, One Chicago, an initiative adopted from the Seattle Public Library, aims to rally virtual community engagement around monthly book selections.

Others are rebranding themselves as places where people can explore their passions. Programs such as Geek the Library, which is part of OCLC, partners with libraries to promote the idea that everyone "geeks out" about something, and a local library can help you recognize your special passion.

Through his 18 years of documenting libraries, Dawson says he's seen many of them adapt and transform for their communities. Some took on new daily roles, such as teaching people to write resumes or providing social services.

This Berkeley, California, library specializes in lending tools.

"In San Francisco, they have a dedicated social worker, especially for the homeless," he said. Others became safe havens.

"When I was in Detroit, it one of the hottest days on record, I walked into a library. There was this huge guard at the front, the air conditioning was blasting, it was packed, and everyone was reading. And I sort of got it -- it was a place of shelter."

Olaf Eigenbrodt, librarian and senior head of user services and adviser for planning and construction at State and University Library Hamburg in Germany, says there are three main reasons why libraries continue to be popular today: They are information hotspots; they are places communities can gather; and they provide learning collaboration.

Libraries want to get rid of the traditional intimidating "shhh-attitude" and become spaces where people like to spend their time.

Olaf Eigenbrodt, State and University Library Hamburg

They even provide an element of comfort. "Libraries tend to become more cozy, relaxing and communicative places. Other than public spaces like museums, they have a certain private character, which makes them a living room for their community," Eigenbrodt said.

Dawson thinks a part of people's fascination with libraries is sort of irrational, too, but in a good way. He attributes our love for libraries to our childhood memories. "I think a lot of it goes back to being a kid. There's an emotional connection that is somewhat unique. A lot of kids discover libraries with their parents when they are younger," he explained.

That affinity can be partially psychological, according to De Rosa of OCLC. "I would find it difficult to find 10 people in a crowd who didn't have a positive experience in a library. That's a personal thing," she said. "It's why libraries continue to be relevant."

Addison, from the Seattle Public Library, says the most alluring factor of a public library is simple -- it's free. "Where else can you go that offers all this for free? Whether you're in a three-piece suit or a three-day beard, you can go into a library and be welcomed."

CNN's Daphne Sashin and Margaret Blaha, special to CNN, contributed to this story.