'The Library Has Always Been a Window to a Larger World'

"More than a building that houses books and data, the library has always been a window to a larger world--a place where we've always come to discover big ideas and profound concepts that help move the American story forward. . . .



"Libraries remind us that truth isn't about who yells the loudest, but who has the right information. Because even as we're the most religious of people, America's innovative genius has always been preserved because we also have a deep faith in facts."And so the moment we persuade a child, any child, to cross that threshold into a library, we've changed their lives forever, and for the better. This is an enormous force for good."--

President-elect Barack Obama in a speech at the American Library Association annual conference in June 2005.
Thanks to Shelf Awareness for bringing this great quote to my attention.