Isaac Asimov is renowned for being one of the most influential science fiction authors, but his impact was also felt in numerous other areas. Sure enough, back in 1971, Isaac Asimov’s letter to celebrate the opening a new library in Troy, Michigan has a pretty unique content. The way he wrote about the importance of libraries is still celebrated today—Asimov held these institutions in high esteem, believing that they could provide individuals with resources and opportunities otherwise unavailable to them and can even completely alter a person’s life.
He is often referenced as an advocate for library-loving and book-reading in general. Asimov is remembered as a visionary who saw beyond the physical functions of libraries, understanding that they act as distinctive gateways to mindsets beyond their walls.
His letter addressed the children of the Troy community as follows:
"Congratulations on the new library because it is not just a library. It is a spaceship that will take you to the farthest reaches of the Universe, a time machine that will take you to the far past and the far future, a teacher that knows more than any human being, a friend that will amuse you and console you—and most of all, a gateway, to a better and happier and more useful life."