Special Delivery May 2-7, 2009

SPECIAL DELIVERY

In 1996, there was only one librarian in Garissa. Garissa is an area of Kenya in Africa. The library had 24,000 books. Not many people came to read them. "We had to find a way o reach the people. They were not coming to us," the librarian said.
Then, he had an idea. He would take the library to the people. He knew just what to do for desert travel. The Mobile Camel Library was born!
The area is dry and sandy. Camels can go for weeks without drinking water. Their hooves are flat and wide. This is perfect for desert travel. They don't sink in the sand. Also, a camel can carry very heavy loads.
Now three camels travel twice a month. They carry boxes filled with books. Kids are happy when the library visits. In the village of Bulla Iftin, one boy said he treasures his time with each book. "I really want the book to stay in my head," he says.
What happens if someone loses a book? Library fines are pretty stiff. "If a community loses books," the librarian says, "we do not go back."