Fake books on the shelves of Tianjin's new library?

Recently, book lovers from all across the world have been going gaga over a new library in Tianjin that appears taken straight from the pages of a sci-fi novel. However, it turns out that the place is in fact a bit too good to be true.

The futuristic Tianjin Binhai Library boasts a collection of some 200,000 books along with a stunning design that makes it, undoubtedly, the coolest place to read a book in China.

But you might actually have a bit of trouble finding reading material in the library's spectacular atrium. The dozens of terraced shelves are actually filled with nothing more than row after row of images of books. Disappointing, we know.

Apparently, this was not the original intent of the library's designer, Dutch firm MVRDV, who wanted to make even the upper terraces of the atrium accessible and filled with books. However, the firm told AFP that construction of the library had been "fast-tracked," forcing it to drop the idea against its wishes.

Meanwhile, the library's deputy director had another explanation for the lack of books in the main reading room, telling AFP that the government-approved plan for the atrium stated that it was to be used for "circulation, sitting, reading, and discussion, but omitted a request to store books on shelves."

So, if you're actually looking for something to read, you'll have to go into one of the library's rooms, where you'll find boring, traditional bookshelves.

However, as more and more people turn towards e-books and audiobooks, we find the idea of a library without any books even more realistically futuristic -- plus it cuts down on the amount of counterfeit and explicit content that could cause people to miss out on the beauty.

[Images via China Daily]

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