--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A university is a reading and discussion…" description: "\"A university is a reading and discussion club. If students knew how to use the library, they wouldn't need the rest of the buildings. The faculty's job..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/john-ciardi-10262_access_a-university-is-a-reading-and-discussion_800363.png" --- # A university is a reading and discussion club. If students… ![“A university is a reading and discussion club. If students knew how to use the library, they wouldn't need the rest of the buildings. The faculty's job, in great part, is to teach students how to use a library in a living way. All a student should really need is access to the library and a place…” quote by John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/john-ciardi-10262_access_a-university-is-a-reading-and-discussion_800363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/john-ciardi-10262_access_a-university-is-a-reading-and-discussion_800363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16e/john-ciardi-10262_access_a-university-is-a-reading-and-discussion_800363.png) > “A university is a reading and discussion club. If students knew how to use the library, they wouldn't need the rest of the buildings. The faculty's job, in great part, is to teach students how to use a library in a living way. All a student should really need is access to the library and a place to sleep.” [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A university should prioritize library access and living learning over physical infrastructure; the core need is knowledge and rest. **In simple terms:** Universities need libraries and places to sleep more than fancy buildings. Key Takeaway Focus on providing essential learning resources and student housing. Themes education resource allocation student welfare Mood pragmatic critical Type analytical policy‑oriented When to use this quote - campus planning - budget cuts - student housing shortages Key Concepts library science higher education policy Questions to Reflect On - What resources most improve student success? - How can campuses balance infrastructure with academic support? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on facilities can neglect other essential services like counseling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/library/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Describing his house:\] It is a library with living rooms attached. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/describing-his-house-it-is-a-library-with-living-rooms-attached/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [Come indoors then, and open the books on your library shelves. For you have a library and a good one. A working library, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/come-indoors-then-and-open-the-books-on-your-library-shelves-for-you/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [Immigrants use the library often. A lot of them don't have access to books and Internet at home. They seem so disconnected to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-maharaj/immigrants-use-the-library-often-a-lot-of-them-don-t-have-access-to/) Rabindranath Maharaj > [There's a serendipity to real life that the Internet can't duplicate. Do you use the library? For anything? Well, sometimes you end up picking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/there-s-a-serendipity-to-real-life-that-the-internet-can-t-duplicate/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [Go anywhere you wish, talk to everyone. Ask any questions; you will be given answers. When you want to learn, you will be taught.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/go-anywhere-you-wish-talk-to-everyone-ask-any-questions-you-will-be/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I often wonder what my life would be like without the use of a library. Throughout my education and career, public and private libraries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-horowitz/i-often-wonder-what-my-life-would-be-like-without-the-use-of-a/) [David Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-horowitz/) > [“I think I could use a library," she answered finally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-jaffe/i-think-i-could-use-a-library-she-answered-finally/) [Michele Jaffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-jaffe/) > [Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/libraries-allow-children-to-ask-questions-about-the-world-and-find/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [More people should use their library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regis-philbin/more-people-should-use-their-library/) [Regis Philbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regis-philbin/) > [“I use a library the same way I’ve been describing the creative process as a writer — I don’t go in with lists of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-use-a-library-the-same-way-i-ve-been-describing-the-creative/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Shakespeare and Rembrandt have in common the faculty of quickening speculation and compelling the minds of men to combat and discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ernest-henley/shakespeare-and-rembrandt-have-in-common-the-faculty-of-quickening/) [William Ernest Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-henley/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The top priority is leaving no child behind. We want accountability in the system, and we want schools to recognize they have a responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-card/the-top-priority-is-leaving-no-child-behind-we-want-accountability-in/) [Andrew Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-card/) > [We do not need to teach students to embrace the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/we-do-not-need-to-teach-students-to-embrace-the-status-quo/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“The importance of day-to-day coaching comes to mind when I think of my favorite college teacher. He was always getting into trouble with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-blanchard/the-importance-of-day-to-day-coaching-comes-to-mind-when-i-think-of/) [Kenneth H. Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-blanchard/) ## More by John Ciardi > [Tell me how much a nation knows about its own language, and I will tell you how much that nation knows about its own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/tell-me-how-much-a-nation-knows-about-its-own-language-and-i-will/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Modern art is what happens when painters stop looking at girls and persuade themselves that they have a better idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/modern-art-is-what-happens-when-painters-stop-looking-at-girls-and/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [The day will happen whether or not you get up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-day-will-happen-whether-or-not-you-get-up/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [But when the pen is in his hand he has to write by itch and twitch, though certainly his itch and twitch are intimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/but-when-the-pen-is-in-his-hand-he-has-to-write-by-itch-and-twitch/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Who could believe an ant in theory? A giraffe in blueprint? Ten thousand doctors of what's possible Could reason half the jungle out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/who-could-believe-an-ant-in-theory-a-giraffe-in-blueprint-ten/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [“There was a young lady from Gloucester Who complained that her parents both bossed her, So she ran off to Maine. Did her parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/there-was-a-young-lady-from-gloucester-who-complained-that-her/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [One night I dreamed I was locked in my Father's watch With Ptolemy and twenty-one ruby stars Mounted on spheres and the Primum Mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/one-night-i-dreamed-i-was-locked-in-my-father-s-watch-with-ptolemy/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Gentility is what is left over from rich ancestors after the money is gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/gentility-is-what-is-left-over-from-rich-ancestors-after-the-money-is/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/the-classroom-should-be-an-entrance-into-the-world-not-an-escape-from/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Boys are the cash of war. Whoever said: we're not free spenders- doesn't know our like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/boys-are-the-cash-of-war-whoever-said-we-re-not-free-spenders-doesn-t/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [“Hell is the denial of the ordinary...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/hell-is-the-denial-of-the-ordinary/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [General rules have been legislated into being by past masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/general-rules-have-been-legislated-into-being-by-past-masters/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Written by a sponge dipped in warm milk and sprinkled with sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/written-by-a-sponge-dipped-in-warm-milk-and-sprinkled-with-sugar/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [Love is the word used to label the sexual excitement of the young, the habituation of the middle-aged, and the mutual dependence of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/love-is-the-word-used-to-label-the-sexual-excitement-of-the-young-the/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) > [A man is what he does with his attention and mine is not for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ciardi/a-man-is-what-he-does-with-his-attention-and-mine-is-not-for-sale/) [John Ciardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) [Explore all 67 John Ciardi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ciardi/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [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 > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Broadband Internet access shouldn't depend on who you are or where you're from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/broadband-internet-access-shouldn-t-depend-on-who-you-are-or-where/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) [Browse all 2,178 Access quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A university is a reading and discussion club. If students knew how to use the library, they wouldn't need the rest of the buildings. The faculty's job, in great part, is to teach students how to use a library in a living way. 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