In the age of algorithms, hotel libraries are an act of resistance

In recent years, hotels have begun to treat their libraries with a newfound sense of purpose and intentionality. Instead of merely placing a few magazines or decorative books on the bedside tables for guests, hotels are now curating their book collections, drawing inspiration from their art collections and emphasizing provenance and viewpoint.

Lady Olga Polizzi, the director of design and deputy chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels, exemplifies this trend. She personally selects books for their properties, often choosing titles by renowned local writers to offer guests a genuine sense of place. At Brown's Hotel in London, guests will find Kipling's works on the shelf, as Lady Polizzi believed the writer penned The Jungle Book in the same building.

Similarly, in Palermo, Villa Igiea displays Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's The Leopard, which captures the essence of Sicily. Shadi Moazami, the founder of Chapter, a literary consultancy working with hotels to build and program book collections, believes in a similar approach. Moazami, who previously worked in hospitality communications, noticed the lack of thoughtful book selection in many hotels.

Now, Chapter focuses on understanding the story, location, people, and desired experience behind each property to curate a collection that reflects the establishment's unique character.

Moazami's process involves extensive research, balancing familiar and unexpected titles, contemporary and older works, beautiful editions, and books that encourage genuine reading. Given the Middle East's rich literary history and the region's diverse audience, Moazami emphasizes the importance of Arabic literature and regional voices. However, she insists that a hotel library should not be confined to geographic boundaries, as it should foster connections between different cultures, periods, and ideas.

Location and content are equally important, as Moazami explains. Books placed in inviting areas are more likely to be picked up, and the choice of books should reflect the property's character and history. Lady Polizzi, for instance, prefers shorter books that guests can read in a short amount of time, such as PG Wodehouse's humorous stories.

For Moazami, a hotel library is more than just a collection of books; it is a miniature cultural institution. Books can bring people together, inspire curiosity, and contribute to a place's cultural identity. With the rise of digital media, a well-chosen and thoughtfully placed library offers a more personal, focused, and enriching reading experience compared to algorithm-driven suggestions.