I cannot say enough good things about the Pittsburg Public Library. The only Carnegie Library that doesn’t bear the philanthropists name (Turns out union busting and cole miners aren’t a good mix.), the structure is a marvel of early Americana. When my son was small, it was important to teach him the value of low-cost experiences over buying expensive things. PBS, public libraries, and NPR provided such a refuge for my family and I. (Did I mention that my son was the first person in his school to earn 1,000 AR points? Proud parents!) From the mix of newer murals and artwork to the carefully preserved original features, many public institutions provide a quiet stillness not readily available in our hectic lives. We’ve never had a bad experience: the director is warm and engaging, the staff’s enthusiasm is contagious, and the used book sales are amazing. Have you seen the Alice in Wonderland theme in the children’s library? We now live in Kansas City, and haven’t experienced anything like it in a community that is only 1% of the KC metro area. If you do nothing else, visit often and donate generously. Even $5-10 per month can mean the difference between continuing or canceling important community programs. Since I first experienced the beauty of poetry here, I’ll end with a haiku heard on NPR just this morning: Set a reading goal, Library trips twice a week, How much can I read? —Jancee Tabacnic, Richmond, KY