“Yet the real reason was that during the off hours, she used the library herself then. During the day she was the true owner of the library. She simply steeped herself in the books and words and spent time reading.” ReadingLibraryOwner Book:Dinner at the Night Library Source: Dinner at the Night Library
“And the books here are not ours. They're cultural assets that authors have left for us. They're treasures for the Japanese people--- no, for all humanity. Naturally the same would hold true if you, Mr. Tamura, likewise left us your books, and we would treat them exactly the same. Because we love authors and hold them in the highest regard.” LibraryVoice Of ReasonAssurance Service Book:Dinner at the Night Library Source: Dinner at the Night Library
“What my aunt wanted to try was to create the Night Library. Through all of her studies of art, she'd discovered the importance of preserving this thing known as the past. "You know, it's presumptuous to think that the present is more advanced than the past," she said. "Putting aside industry, science, and chemistry, there hasn't been any progress in the arts, or literature." She told me this while she stood in front of the statue David in the Accademia Gallery. "Probably we can't produce magnificent things like this nowadays. Apart from reproductions and such." "Hmm." "Which is why I'd like to take the past and seal it in.” PastLibraryPreservingSealing Book:Dinner at the Night Library Source: Dinner at the Night Library