A wonderland of lavishly bound tomes from centuries past. If you have any interest in the tangible, palpable literary legacy of the past, this is a magical place. I was lucky enough to come here when they were having an enthralling exhibit on lavishly detailed and ornate Renaissance-era maps, but whenever you come here, you will be delighted by a stylish, minimalist building reverently housing a glassy tower filled with important books.

While I love this building and know about it through being a designer, I wish part of the entrance inside was open to the public. It's beautiful and unique from the outside, but not being able to see the inside does take away from the experience. They are keeping rare books safe, but it's a shame to let the view go to waste.

Impressive. I wish they would let you get closer to the glass wall protected rare books but all in all, a great showcase. Window sized photos of black historical writers were a treat too. Yale has good taste.

Great architectural design. A marveluous combination of brilliant engineering, beautiful and artistic design, as well as functionality and energy efficiency. The book and manuscript collections are superb and top notch. A world class library! A must visit when in New Haven.

Discovering this gem comes with the added perk of limited, yet complimentary, street-side parking. Admission is free, allowing you to delve into the wonders that lie within. Prepare to be captivated by the sheer magnitude of books collected within a marvelously-designed glass tower, showcasing the magnificence of the human intellect.

When I first saw the Beinecke, I thought it looked unfortunately modern and out of place surrounded by the breathtaking traditional architecture of Yale. Then, I went inside... The walls are made of thin stone which allows light to penetrate into the interior on sunny days which gives a visitor the impression of standing in a stained glass cube--it's aesthetically stunning; uniquely beautiful.

This library is a treasure for humanity. It contains some of the rarest books on earth, preserved in an environment that’s made to keep them safely preserved. They have two Gutenberg Bibles, which I think are the highlight of the visit. It’s amazing to behold texts that have been around for so long and that have so much history. There is no entry fee and the staff is incredibly helpful. A must see.

It's a must see place if you are book lover. I don't know how do they do it, they collected some of the most antique books in existence. However, most of the books are stored in a low air temperature controlled glass sealed place. I wish they would somehow scan these books and we can get to the knowledge inside of the books. Right now it's just a wonder and amazing to look at. It also have a great collections of ancient maps, these maps were hand drawn at the time there's no satellite image. It's surprisingly very good. Back in the days, the maps are gifted as very valuable gift to the emperor. It gives you a feeling of passage of time since there is so many ancient books.

An architectural masterpiece that brings you to awe inside and out. Very unique entrance being slightly underground. Once you enter you're met with a massive centerpiece full of books from thousands of years ago. While the library is open there are a few books and artifacts on display at the perimeter. There is also a lot of very spacious and comfortable seating if you want to relax and take in the views.

Located within the Yale campus, this is a nice place to catch a quick break if you are a tourist! The manuscript collection is pretty expansive and interesting and ranges from early literature to late ancient era. The marble wall architecture of the building is sight to see, especially on a sunny day!

I'm a CT wedding photographer and Beinecke has been on my bucket list for a few years now. Recently, the stars finally aligned and I had the opportunity to go inside with one of my wedding couples. It's so awesome, inside and out! Note that the word "rare" in the official name of the library is for good reason: most/all of the words here are one or few of their kind on the planet. You need an appointment and credentials in order to touch anything. Otherwise, you can walk around and look. I guarantee you've never been inside a building quite like the Beinecke. And even if you don't go inside, hanging around outside is really nice, too! Definitely check out Beinecke if you're near the Yale campus!

this is such a unique place. i never even knew that something like this existed and i'm so so so glad i got to visit. the staff is super nice, even gave my little sister a coloring book. the exterior is really well architected, also unique. this entire experience was really motivational/inspirational and impressive to me. really recommend giving this a visit, especially if it's on your way!

SOM at their best. One copy of the Gutenberg bible is on display. Underground level only open during business days.

Cool, reverent place to walk around. Reminds me of the Jedi archives

Such an amazing library. We have been to the library of rare books at Trinity in Dublin, and this library is just as interesting.

I think some of the choices made in the architecture of the building are aesthetically questionable but everything else is *fantastic.*. The curators clearly put their heart and soul into the historical cartography exhibit I saw, and the accompanying descriptions provide enough context to appreciate how truly extraordinary this library's collection is. On top of that, it's free and they even give you a free post card for visiting. Just a lovely experience from beginning to end -- highly recommended!

Very interesting free museum that has a rotating collection of displays. The main collection is displayed in the center of the museum and is only item to registered scholars but there are displays that can be viewed by anyone around the perimeter of the stack. Great experience if you're in the area.

If you visit Yale's campus, you HAVE to step inside this building. It will take your breath away, the same as a classical landmark will do.

Wow. Beautiful building. Impressive exhibit. We really had a nice visit. 👍

A gorgeous place inside and out. Very clean, quiet and packed with interesting and beautiful literary masterpieces. Always evolving and showcasing rotating exhibits of impressive art and culture.

I never went inside this building because it is in the process of being renovated. What an incredible exposition of Bunshaft architecture (SOM) which features semi translucent slabs of marble but I allow light to get in to the library. Can't wait for the renovation to be finished so I can see that firsthand from the inside *******Revised picture from 2019. *******

Rare indeed -from the collections they house and display to the architecture and events. Do yourself a favor and visit during a sunny afternoon to experience the full beauty of the marble walls. Yale often hosts events, speakers, and concerts in this space, check out the calendar so you don't miss the next one. Currently they are exhibiting artifacts from the Harlem Renaissance, check it out!

Very cool building. Need to google or research to know what is in this library . Traveling exhibits are very interesting.