Guardian of Knowledge

These were old books, wise books, not just for anyone. Of course, all of them had been copied to websites that preserved great literature, so people weren't barred from reading them.

Just, here was a sacred place, with old-book smells and ... yes, cigars too. (If cigar smoke put you off, you didn't really want the knowlege in the books.) Not just anyone could stop by and read. They needed to be handled with care.

So most were denied the privilege of reading in-person. You needed certification you were smart, though MENSA smart-alecks were revoked on principle. If you couldn't Google it, you didn't deserve to find it. Dressing well to show respect for the collection was imperative, too.