--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Librarians are not just gatekeepers to…" description: "\"Librarians are not just gatekeepers to knowledge, they are what the American Indians used to call their special sages who preserved the oral legends of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/james-h-billington-84059_american-indian_librarians-are-not-just-gatekeepers-to-k_379400.png" --- # Librarians are not just gatekeepers to knowledge, they are… ![“Librarians are not just gatekeepers to knowledge, they are what the American Indians used to call their special sages who preserved the oral legends of a tribe: dream keepers.” quote by James H. Billington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/james-h-billington-84059_american-indian_librarians-are-not-just-gatekeepers-to-k_379400.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/james-h-billington-84059_american-indian_librarians-are-not-just-gatekeepers-to-k_379400.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/james-h-billington-84059_american-indian_librarians-are-not-just-gatekeepers-to-k_379400.png) > “Librarians are not just gatekeepers to knowledge, they are what the American Indians used to call their special sages who preserved the oral legends of a tribe: dream keepers.” James H. Billington ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Librarians are likened to revered tribal sages who safeguard oral traditions, highlighting their role as cultural custodians. **In simple terms:** Librarians preserve knowledge like sacred storytellers. Key Takeaway Respect and support librarians as knowledge keepers. Themes knowledge preservation culture Mood appreciative thoughtful Type cultural educational When to use this quote - library development - education policy - digital archiving - cultural heritage projects Key Concepts archiving oral tradition community service Questions to Reflect On - How can libraries adapt while honoring tradition? - What responsibilities do librarians have today? A Different Perspective Modern digital access may diminish perceived value of physical curation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-indian/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Gatekeepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gatekeepers/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) [Librarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarian/) [Librarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/librarians/) [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Sages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sages/) [Tribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribes/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. 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That's my favorite thing about Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-like-the-way-you-can-circumvent-the-media-gatekeepers-and-go-right/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [O Logic: born gatekeeper to the Temple of Science, victim of capricious destiny: doomed hitherto to be the drudge of pedants: come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/o-logic-born-gatekeeper-to-the-temple-of-science-victim-of-capricious/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [“If Amazon’s dream of a world without gatekeepers becomes reality, then the company itself will become a powerful gatekeeper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/if-amazon-s-dream-of-a-world-without-gatekeepers-becomes-reality-then/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [The words of the tongue should have three gatekeepers: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/the-words-of-the-tongue-should-have-three-gatekeepers-is-it-true-is/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) ## More by James H. Billington > [Intellectual and cultural freedom is the most important single precondition for the breakdown of the kinds of tyrannical and totalitarian systems that periodically threaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-billington/intellectual-and-cultural-freedom-is-the-most-important-single/) James H. Billington > [Libraries are starting places for the adventure of learning that can go on whatever one's vocation and location in life. Reading is an adventure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-billington/libraries-are-starting-places-for-the-adventure-of-learning-that-can/) James H. Billington Explore all 3 James H. 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