It may not seem like it, but I have been doing my homework. Been reading many articles from the dawn of the modern American library for my History of Service to the Public seminar. Here are some interesting tidbits:
Those of us who have faith in the future of democracy can only hold our faith fast by believing that the knowledge of the learned, the wisdom of the thoughtful, the conscience of the upright, will some day be common enough to prevail, always, over every factious folly and every mischievous movement that evil minds or ignorance can set astir. When that blessed time of victory shall have come, there will be many to share the glory of it; but none among them will rank rightly before those who have led and inspired the work ofthe public libraries.
Mary Salome Cutler quoting Mr. Larned [Joseph Nelson Larned?] from a paper read at Lake Placid [source?]- "Two Fundamentals" Library Journal, 1896, p. 446.) My source: The Library and Society: Reprints of Papers and Adresses (Classics of American Librarianship), 1920, p. 67-73.
…education is impossible without a library, for the library is the storehouse of the world’s knowledge, the record of humanity’s achievements, the history of mankind’s trials and sorrows and sufferings, of its victories and defeats and of its gradual progress upwards in spite of frequent fluctuations and failure.
Frederick M. Crunden - "The Library: a Plea for Its Recognition" (International Congress of Arts and Science, St. Louis Exposition. Library Journal, 1904, Conference No., p. I.) My source: The Library and Society: Reprints of Papers and Adresses (Classics of American Librarianship), 1920, p. 333-342.
I wish I could believe the idealism of that 1st quote. But, "that blessed time of victory" slips ever farther away in our current society driven by commercial interests that are clearly in control of our government. Turn off the TV, broaden your sources of information, question the pap fed you by the mainstream media; only buy the things you need or at least really want and not everything you are told to; question your government and demand thoughtful, intelligent answers.