This week is National Library Week, and we are delighted to dedicate a week to honoring spaces that hold stories that shape us. Listen to a collection of stories that celebrate libraries and the many ways they have inspired us. 

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The Temple of Knowledge

Ronald Clark’s father was custodian of a New York Public Library branch during a time when caretakers and their families lived on-premises. Ronald recalls how a childhood surrounded by books expanded his horizons.

The Treasures of Mrs. Grady’s Library

Judge Olly Neal recounts how a book cover — and a little nudge from two helpful librarians — turned him around academically and changed the course of his life.

The Bookmobile

Storm Reyes was working full-time at a migrant work camp at age 8. She remembers the day a bookmobile arrived, and the world was suddenly at her fingertips.

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“When I buy a new book, I don’t start reading the first page. I smell it.”
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A Love Story in 10,000 Books

Alagappa Rammohan has amassed enough books over the course of his life to fill a small library. He shares with his daughter, Paru Venkat, his love for the written word.

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“You see that spark that you put in this child?”
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For the Love of Books: One Librarian Makes All the Difference

Brooklyn Public Library serves an incredibly broad community of over 2.5 million people. Richelet Jean and his young daughter Abigail give thanks to local librarian Hasina Islam for igniting Abigail’s love of reading.


In this national moment of uncertainty, conversations like these are crucial to help us feel connected. Have a meaningful conversation with a loved one through StoryCorps Connect, a free platform that enables you to record a StoryCorps interview remotely using video conference technology. Learn more at StoryCorpsConnect.org.