Where do you find joy when traveling? Two places where Paul and I find joy are libraries and bookstores.

We seek them out wherever we go, at home and abroad. Because the joy of knowledge, cultures, adventures, and inspirations await within their walls.

National Library Week 2026 starts April 19^th, celebrating the theme “Find Your Joy,” and ends with Independent Bookstore Day on April 25^th.

Surprisingly, at least to us, we found one of the world’s most important public library systems in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

How, we wondered, did “Steel City USA” become a global hub of library culture?

Well, Pittsburgh was home to the famous industrialist, philanthropist, traveler, and author Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919).

This poor Scottish teenager became a self-made American tycoon and cultural titan through hard work and a rare reward: free access to a fine library.

Writing his Autobiography, Carnegie credited his employer, Colonel James Anderson, for opening his vast private library to Carnegie and a few fellow workers.

Each well-deserving employee earned “the invaluable privilege” to choose one book on Saturday afternoon and exchange it the next Saturday afternoon.

Young Andrew found joy in Colonel Anderson’s library.

He vowed one day to build public libraries for “boys and girls who have good within them and ability and ambition to develop it.”

Carnegie’s construction grants built over 2,500 “free-to-the-people” libraries across the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Caribbean, and elsewhere.

Today, the 1895 Main Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh remains the crown jewel. With its monumental architecture, elegant artwork, and impressive collections, it’s well worth your visit to Pittsburgh.

Reader, here’s to finding joy this week, in travel and in life.

Until next time,

Travel on, sparkle on, meaningfully✨

Marilee + Paul Kostadimas
Spotlight Sojourns | Slow Travel
​with the Hidden Gemologists®

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