It is a unique accumulation of a part of the world's knowledge and experience. The library is the stored-up memory of mankind. Without that memory we cease to be human. However, do not think this applies only to a great institution like the Newberry Library. It applies to all institutions.
Libraries are a part of our culture and civilization.
In the Dark Ages, civilization was preserved by collections of manuscript books in monastic libraries, most of which were smaller than the smallest of our libraries. In the past few years, we have seen the breaking up and dispersal of two great botanical libraries, one in Europe, and one in North America. In France, the fine private collection of Arpad Plesch, built up over many years in the south of France, was sold at Sotheby's auction house in London in 1975 and 1976. Even the three auction catalogs of this fine collection are collector's pieces today. A few years ago the library of the New York Horticultural Society was sold.