The rise of technology means that there is now a wealth of information available at the click of a button; gone are the days of needing several books in the house to help you find your way through life.

Some see this as an indication that traditional libraries are now redundant, with far more comprehensive and convenient archives available online to all.

Here at EDGAR, we’re certainly not of that opinion. However we implore anyone who is to take a look at these 20 stunning libraries from around the world, then try to tell us they’re not needed:

University of Coimbra General Library, Coimbra, Portugal (also main image)

Housing volumes dating back to before 1800, the General Library at the University of Coimbra is lavishly decorated in genuine gold imported from Brazil.

Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Saint Gallen, Switzerland

The oldest library in Switzerland and amongst the oldest and most important monastery libraries in the world, the Abbey Library of Saint Gall is so special it’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Mexico City, Mexico

Dedicated to philosopher and former presidential candidate José Vasconcelos, the Biblioteca Vasconcelos was shrouded in controversy after it was found that marble blocks worth $1.4 million were ‘misplaced’ during its building. But however it got here, the end result is nothing short of stunning.

Library of Congress, Washington, USA

Quite simply the largest library in the world - in terms of number of books and shelf space - the Library of Congress is the oldest federal cultural institution in the US, having been founded in 1800.

Wiblingen Abbey Library, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Completed in 1744, this library was modelled on the Baroque-style Austrian National Library, hence the lavishly decorated interiors.

The Library of El Escorial, Madrid, Spain

Located in the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial - the historical residence of the King of Spain - the Library of El Escorial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing more than 40,000 volumes.

Strahov Monastery Library, Strahov, Czech Republic

Complete with stunningly detailed decor, secret passageways hidden by fake bookshelves and an extremely impressive 200,000 volumes, the Strahov Monastery Library is a bookworm’s paradise.

The Royal Portuguese Reading Room, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Completed in 1887, the Royal Portuguese Reading Room holds more Portuguese works than anywhere else outside of Portugal and its Gothic-inspired style is beautifully dark.

Admont Abbey Library, Admont, Austria

The largest monastery library in the world, the Admont Abbey Library was finished in 1776 and features some of the most beautiful ceiling frescos you’re ever likely to see.

The George Peabody Library, Baltimore, USA

Named after the noted American-British entrepreneur and philanthropist, the George Peabody Library houses some 300,000 volumes, all of which are available for public use.

Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum, Osaka, Japan

Named after the Japanese author best known for his novels about historical events in Japan and elsewhere on the Northeast Asian subcontinent, the Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum is home to the 20,000 books the great novelist collected in his lifetime.

The Tripitaka Koreana, Haeinsa Temple, South Korea

There are no frills about the Tripitaka Koreana, but it houses the most complete collection of Buddhist doctrinal texts anywhere in the world.

Sainte-Geneviève Library, Paris, France

Containing an estimated 2 million documents, the stunning Sainte-Geneviève Library is a masterpiece of glass and ironwork.

The Liyuan Library, Jiaojiehe, China

The modest Liyuan Library in Jiaojiehe, around two hours north of Beijing, uses the bookshelves as the floor, stairs, chairs and tables. The outside is covered in twigs to make it blend into its surroundings.

Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland

The largest library in Ireland and also home to the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by Celtic monks around 800AD.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre, Berlin, Germany

Home to the largest open-access holdings in Germany - some 2.5 million books - the Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Centre uses geometric design to create an utterly spectacular effect.

John Rylands Library, Manchester, England

Located in the heart of Manchester city centre, the John Rylands Library, named after the English entrepreneur and philanthropist, opened to the public in 1900 and is now maintained by the University of Manchester.

Stuttgart City Library, Stuttgart, Germany

Opened in October 2011, the ultra-modern Stuttgart City Library is a 40-metre-high, bright white cube that cost around AED 360 million to build.

State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

First opened to the public in 1826, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia and now home to more than 5 million documents.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt

Built in 2002 at a cost of around AED 780 million, the gigantic Bibliotheca Alexandrina is the reincarnation of the old Library of Alexandria, which was lost in antiquity - thought to have been burned down all the way back in 391 AD.

There are so many amazing libraries in the world, this list is far from comprehensive, so if you’ve got a favourite that you think is too beautiful to miss, let us know in the comments below.