Brooklyn Central Library

Here are the words inscribed at the entrance to the Brooklyn Central Library, New York :

Here are enshrined the longing of great hearts and noble things that tower above the tide, the magic word that winged wonder starts, the garnered wisdom that never dies.

Written by Roscoe Conklin Ensign Brown (b.1867- d.1946; Appointed Brooklyn Public Library Board, 1908; Vice President, Brooklyn Public Library Board, 1922-1938; President, Brooklyn Public Library Board, 1939-1941).

Here is a link to the various other inscriptions in the library...
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/central/inscriptions.jsp

(Thanks Catherine for prompting me to find the author !)

I came across it in The Core September newsletter - A Tale of Two Libraries by Kenneth Partridge http://www.corecollections.net/Sept10.htm

Here is the link to The Core newsletter archive - one feature each month is new school library websites which can lead to some interesting virtual visits...
http://www.corecollections.net/newsletter.htm