John Cotton Dana Quotes

United States, Librarian
August 19, 1856 – July, 21, 1929.

John Cotton Dana was an American library and museum director who sought to make these cultural institutions relevant to the daily lives of citizens. As a public librarian for forty years Dana promoted the benefits of reading, pioneered direct access to shelved materials, and innovated specialized library services of all types.

The library should be a commonplace to every one. To use it should be as natural when one needs news or knowledge, fiction or fact, as it is to use the trolley when one needs transportation.

John Cotton Dana
- Needs
- Library
- Natural
Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.

John Cotton Dana

Of hobbies there are many, many, kinds. For example, money-making. But money-making is not exactly a hobby, for it will scarcely carry a boy along in continuous joy, comfort and pleasure - to say nothing of a full-grown man. Money comes, not because it is ridden as a hobby, but because a real hobby is ridden so cleverly and carefully that it oozes out money on the side!

John Cotton Dana
- Men
- Real
- Money
A great department store, easily reached, open at all hours, is more like a good museum of art than any of the museums we have yet established.

John Cotton Dana
- Good
- Great
- Art
The public library is a center of public happiness first, of public education next.

John Cotton Dana
- Education
- Firsts
- Library