“The best place to find things: the public library.”

“Libraries are places where the damaged go to find friends”

Tamora Pierce (1954) American writer of fantasy novels for children

“No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library.”

Samuel Johnson The Rambler

“Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.”

Laura Bush (1946) First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009

“Libraries, as spaces, need to continue to inspire the public to dream big and to think great thoughts. Cities, towns, and academic communities of all shapes and sizes need the free, open public spaces that libraries–and only libraries–provide.”

John Palfrey (1972) US law professor

“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you.”

Keith Richards (1943) British rock musician, member of The Rolling Stones

“My alma mater is the Chicago Public Library.”

David Mamet (1947) American playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and film director

“Here is the treasure chest of the world - the public library, or a bookstore.”

Ben Carson (1951) 17th and current United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; American neurosurgeon

“In my world there would be as many public libraries as there are Starbucks.”

Henry Rollins (1961) American singer-songwriter

“[Public] libraries should be open to all—except the censor.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America