I think many bibliophiles would kill for this library

But at least now they can take a virtual tour.

360-Degree Panorama Takes You Inside Prague’s Off-Limits Baroque Library

The finished Strahov library panorama, released Tuesday on Martin’s website, is a zoomable, high-resolution peek inside one of Prague’s most beautiful halls, a repository of rare books that is usually off-limits to tourists (a few of whom can be seen standing behind the velvet rope at the room’s normal viewing station).

Martin’s panorama lets you examine the spines of the works in the Philosophical Hall’s 42,000 volumes, part of the monastery’s stunning collection of just about every important book available in central Europe at the end of the 18th century — more or less the sum total of human knowledge at the time.

Martin got special permission from the library to pursue the project. He didn’t, however, get permission to wear his street shoes indoors. He’s complemented his fingerless gloves and down vest — it’s cold in here — with a pair of oversize, felt-soled slippers for the sake of the polished parquet floor.

A blessing

that they (and their beer vats, which are their livelihood) escaped:

Fire damages Rochefort Trappist beer abbey in Belgium

Archives show the abbey has been producing beer since 1595 and it is known today for producing one of the strongest brews, with 12% alcohol.

The abbey has been destroyed on two previous occasions: by the troops of Lorraine in 1650 and again during the French revolution.

Wow

World's largest monastery library restored to its baroque splendour

I don't think you'd find such a library among the Franciscans. But the decor is gorgeous. In addition to religious texts, the library contains historical, scientific, and medical texts. Many of the latter were taken by the Nazis to Dachau and although restored, they still bear the concentration camp's stamp.

There are a few pictures to give you an idea of the size and beauty of the library in the article. Thanks to Adam Bennington, the JediLibrarian, for the link.

It was an accident, and they were forgiven, but it breaks a 1,000-year-old rule (and Greek law)

Women break all-male Mount Athos ban

Four Moldovan women accidentally violated a 1,000-year-old ban on females entering the all male monastic community of Mount Athos, when they were left on Greek shores by human traffickers.