Walking across campus made me feel sad, and I thought to myself, I wasn't happy there. Then, after reading, we walked past Butler Library. It was dark, but the light inside illuminated the windows. Students were reading and working, and those lit windows gave me a wonderful, weightless feeling. I understood for the first time how happy I had been there - in the library. Siri Hustvedt
About This Quote

"Library" is a word that has been used for thousands of years, but it wasn't until the 1960s that libraries really became a cultural phenomenon. College students in particular took to the idea of studying in a place where the books were kept. The idea was so powerful that by the 1970s, many college campuses had built massive libraries to house their collections. Today, the library is still a place where students can go to escape from everything around them.

In this case, it was the library itself that gave Nelson Mandela a weightless feeling. Libraries are full of books, and there's nothing quite like being surrounded by all of those great ideas.

Source: A Plea For Eros: Essays

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