Camel Library

Voice 1:
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight. I’m Joshua Leo.

Voice 2:
And I’m Rebekah Schipper. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1:
Recently, two large computer businesses combined. They joined together to create a new computer library. Normal libraries are found inside of buildings. They contain many books. People can use the books for free. But, the computer library will use the Internet. People will be able to search for many of the books on their computers. They will be able to read parts of the books. If they like it, they can pay a little money to read the rest. This will make life easier for people. They will not even have to leave their home to go to the library.

Voice 2:
But, what about people who do not have computers? And, what about the people who live far away from libraries? How can they enjoy books?

Voice 1:
Well, today’s Spotlight is on a special library in Kenya, in Africa. This special library is helping thousands of people enjoy books. It is also helping people learn to read.

Voice 2:
Camels. Some people call them “ships of the desert.” Throughout history people have used camels for many different reasons. People use them to carry heavy loads. People use them to farm. And people use them to travel long distances through the desert.

Voice 1:
But now these “ships of the desert” have another purpose. They are travelling libraries!

Voice 2:
Garissa is an area outside of Nairobi, Kenya – four hundred kilometres outside of Nairobi. The people living in this area do not have a lot of extra resources. They are simple herdsmen. They follow their animals from place to place. They make sure their animals have enough to eat.

Voice 1:
There has been some violence in Garissa. There are tribal wars. And refugees coming from neighboring countries struggle to survive. Water and land for the animals can often be hard to find. Life can be difficult in Garissa.

Voice 2:
But, the Kenyan government has created a few interesting plans for Garissa. They hope their plans will improve the lives of people living there. One of their plans is to bring a library into this struggling part of Kenya. And, they are using camels to carry the books! The name of this library is the “Camel Mobile Library.” It is mobile because it will follow the people as they follow their animals. The Camel Library will move from place to place. The librarian, or leader of the Camel Library is Rashid Farah. Rashid said,

Voice 3:
“The people we serve lead a nomadic, travelling, life. They are here today. But tomorrow they may be gone. A static, or non–moving, library would be of no use to nomads. So instead, we follow them, wherever they go.”

Voice 1:
Rashid and his team begin working in the early morning. They work Monday through Thursday. First they load boxes with books. Each box has two hundred [200] books. And then they gather their camels. The camels have the most important job. They carry the books!

Voice 2:
One camel carries two boxes of books. Another camel carries a tent. And a third camel carries Rashid’s and the team’s supplies. They have nine camels all together. When they are ready to go they separate into three groups. Each group travels with three camels. Together they visit twelve different places in the Garrissa area. The Camel Mobil Library has a set path.