Ron Charles writes this in his weekly column in The Washington Post today.

In his 2006 biography of Andrew Carnegie, David Nasaw notes that the fabulously wealthy industrialist “would live his final years in disappointment that he had not met his lifelong goal of giving away all his money.”

It wasn’t for lack of trying. At the start of the 20th century, Carnegie was building two libraries a week. In 1903, he doubled that pace. Before he died in 1919, he’d given away money for the construction of more than 2,500 libraries. 

Last Friday night, Donald Trump fired off another havoc-wreaking executive order. Among other things, this one calls for gutting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Every year, that little-known agency supports America’s museums and libraries with grants totaling about $266 million, which is close to what Elon Musk spent to put Trump back in the White House. 

Charles goes on and concludes with this:

Yesterday, Trump replaced acting IMLS director Cyndee Landrum — an actual librarian — with Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling, a former employment lawyer. Sonderling immediately laced up his jackboots and issued a statement that says, in part: “I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation. We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.” 

Anybody who’s marching in lockstep with a political ideology needs to spend more free time in a well-funded library.

“There is never time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment. The time is always now.” 

James Baldwin