Ronald Clark literally grew up in a branch of the New York Public Library. His father was a library custodian, and back in the 1940s, custodians often lived in the buildings. After the library closed for the evening, Clark could run around freely, and he often crept to the stacks at night to get books. Eventually, he became the first member of his family to graduate college and became a professor. Clark always believed his family was rich, and they were certainly rich in knowledge.