camelback bookmobile

okay, maybe i was too quick to bemoan our declining literacy. today i learned that there is a mobile library that travels by camel to the seminomadic tribes that live in northern kenya. the books are in such demand, and are read in such harsh conditions, that they get tattered very quickly. they are always desperate for more.

The books they have are written in either English or Swahili, both of which are taught in school....The librarians in the Northeast Province who travel with the camel bookmobile told me children’s storybooks are most popular, general fiction is also high on the list, and much interest is shown in nonfiction books covering topics ranging from astronomy to geography to history. The librarians also said patrons especially love it when a book is inscribed with a note from the sender. It helps them feel connected to places only barely imagined.

what a great organization. i know it's only february but i think i've found this year's holiday charity. you can donate to them via their amazon wishlist, here.