New York Public Library

After our delicious lunch in the Food Court of Grand Central Terminal -- we set off to walk back to the Edison Hotel.

Of course, we are right on 42nd Street -- and we cannot walk past the New York City Public Library without GOING IN THE BUILDING...

This magnificent building, one of the premiere libraries of the world, is an example of what real philanthropy can accomplish. Some very rich people set up a foundation and provided millions of dollars so that every man, woman or child could READ A BOOK. Imagine...

Any time you walk into a building in New York City -- you should LOOK UP...

The Rose Reading Room.  I love to take people here...it is so awe-inspiring...

When the library opened in 1911, it boasted the QUICKEST book delivery system in the world.  You'd write your book request on a piece of paper, and your books would be delivered via a state of the art "rapid delivery" system...

I've written before about the Carnegie Libraries -- and chances are good that YOU HAVE ONE IN YOUR TOWN.

My local library is such a big part of my life -- and Lilly and Warren are comfortable in five or six of our county libraries (my card is good for all of them).  I really cannot imagine what kind of country we would have grown up to be IF WE DIDN'T HAVE LIBRARIES.

Thank you, James Lenox, Samuel Tilden, John Astor and Andrew Carnegie. I take back every snarky thing I ever said about rich old white guys...