[Ads-l] Quote: Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination (Attributed to Sidney Sheldon)

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

Update: I received some great citations from researchers Donna Halper
and Barbara Schmidt via the Wombats discussion group.

A May 1995 piece in the periodical "American Libraries" included a
photo of Sidney Sheldon standing next to a poster which displayed the
target quotation. The American Library Association created the poster,
and the poster attributed the words to Sheldon. The other helpful
citations revealed that Sheldon had a history of advocating for
libraries before 1995.

The QI article has been updated, and it includes an expanded acknowledgement.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/10/18/library-fuel/

[Begin acknowledgement update]
Special thanks to Donna Halper who found the crucial citation dated
May 1995 in "American Libraries". Halper also pointed to the April 21,
1993 citation in the "Daily Oklahoman". Additional thanks to Barbara
Schmidt who found the helpful citation dated September 22, 1994 in
"The Ridgewood News".
[End acknowledgement update]

You might see an older copy of the webpage because I use a content
delivery network that uses caching.  The update should be visible
within 24 hours.
With appreciation,
Garson

On Mon, Oct 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM ADSGarson O'Toole
<adsgarsonotoole at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I was sent a request to trace the following remark attributed to Sidney Sheldon:
>
> [Begin quotation]
> Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up
> windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and
> contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives
> for the better.
> [End quotation]
>
> The earliest match I found appeared in an issue dated June 1, 1995, of
> the "Sierra Madre News" of Sierra Madre, California (information
> obtained via the Internet Archive). Unfortunately, the newspaper did
> not specify a precise source for this quotation.
>
> Sheldon was a powerful force in popular culture who created plays,
> movies, television programs, and books. The quotation ascribed to
> Sheldon also appeared on the website of the American Library
> Association in 2000 (information obtained via the Internet Archive
> Wayback Machine).
>
> The goal is to find a better citation which provides an earlier date
> and/or a more direct linkage. A citation for an interview with Sheldon
> during which he employed the quotation would be ideal.
>
> Here is a pointer to the Quote Investigator article which presents more details:
> https://quoteinvestigator.com/2025/10/18/library-fuel/
>
> Thanks for any help you may provide,
> Garson O'Toole
> QuoteInvestigator.com

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