If you are familiar with the discoworld in Terry Pratchett’s multiverse you know that the librarian at the Unseen University is an orang-utan, or rather a wizard that was transformed into an orang-utan by a magical accident who then discovered that being an ape [don’t ever mention the M-word] was preferable to being a human so he stayed a m… an ape. He loves books fiercely and only grugingly allows readers and researchers in his realm.

“There is no higher life form than a librarian”.

― Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen, The science of disworld

The librarian rules over the library of the Unseen University, the foremost school of wizardry in Ankh-Morpork. Other universities have been known to have libraries, too.

“But we’re a university! We have to have a library!” said Ridcully. “It adds tone. What sort of people would we be if we didn’t go into the library?”
“Students,” said Senior Wrangler morosely.”

― Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent

In answer to this, the appropriate quote comes from Frank Zappa:

“If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.”

“They thought the Library was a dangerous place because of all the magical books, which was true enough, but what made it really one of the most dangerous places there could ever be was the simple fact that it was a library.”

― Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!

“People flock in, nevertheless, in search of answers to those questions only librarians are considered to be able to answer, such as “Is this the laundry?” “How do you spell surreptitious?” and, on a regular basis, “Do you have a book I remember reading once? It had a red cover and it turned out they were twins.”

― Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

Pterry also said: “Go anywhere you wish, talk to everyone. Ask any questions; you will be given answers. When you want to learn, you will be taught. Use the library. Open any book.”

because

“A library is infinity under a roof.”

― Gail Carson Levine

And an unfortunately necessary reminder by Walter Cronkite:

“Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation.”

For Sadje’s

Wednesday Quotes: Libraries

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