The charge card that keeps on giving

‘If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.’ — Cicero

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It’s one of the greatest ads of all time.

Bette Ammon thought so, and we’re not about to disagree.

The full-page newspaper ad was published in New York just before Black Friday. It’s a cleverly constructed promotion for the New York Library.

Ammon, who heads up Coeur d’Alene Public Library, received a special rate from The Press and, with help from the multi-talented David Townsend, modified the ad for her local audience. While Bette plugged the Coeur d’Alene library in particular, she made sure the advertisement spoke for the Community Library Network of Kootenai and Shoshone counties, as well.

The ad was published twice in The Press, on Dec. 9 and 12. We’re running it again right here to make sure it doesn’t get missed in the frenetic holiday hustle.

We also want to second Bette’s motion.

No matter how challenging a resident’s financial situation might be, a tremendous gift for anybody is a library card. That little piece of plastic is a key that unlocks treasure chests of knowledge. Reading sharpens your ability to think. It fills your gray matter with worthwhile subject matter. It strengthens the muscles of your imagination, which TV and video screens weaken. The fact that the key to all this is absolutely free makes it priceless.

Think about library cards for everyone in the family this Christmas. You could even cut out the ad on this page and use it to wrap the new library cards and tuck them into stockings.

We’re certain Santa wouldn’t mind your meddling a bit.