Andrew Carnegie gave away 90% of his fortune. The largest percentage of that created 2,509 public libraries, including 1,681 in the United States. He and his family immigrated from Scotland to what is Pittsburgh when he was 12 years old. He described the life-changing blessing of a local businessman lendomg his personal books to workers every Saturday. “I shall never forget the enjoyment and the instruction I gained from them when I was too poor to buy books myself,” Carnegie said. “Is it any wonder that I decided then and there that if ever I had surplus wealth I would use it in lending books to others?”
The Andrew Carnegie Free Library has been serving Carnegie, PA and surrounding communities since Andrew Carnegie founded and endowed the institution in 1901. 
Years back on a research trip to the University of Alberta library in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, when I stood in line with a question, I overheard a man ahead of me receive privileges for his school by being their librarian. In reality, I bought books for our library and set up our check-out system. By the time I reached the front desk, I was our college librarian. That meant we could order any research books by mail as long we knew the title and author. I received stamped labels to return our books to the university postage paid. That was a wonderful help to our students. In addition, once a year we took road trips 500 miles each way to the university to research titles and works. We took in other sights, too—symphonies and a giant shopping mall. One good marriage resulted from those trips. I just saw a great movie, Surprised by Oxford by Angel Studios, that supports the idea that libraries can assist romance.
For all of those reasons and more, libraries remain one of my favorite institutions.
What about you? What is your favorite institution? Do you like libraries?
And have a most blessed and meaningful Easter! 
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