What is a library? According to one dictionary, it’s “a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study or reference” (Source). So who says a library has to be a building? Who says it can’t have wheels? Or four legs? Or sand on the bottom shelves? The crucial thing is that it makes books available for people, for free.
Books are essential. Libraries–as in, traditional, brick-and-mortar buildings–are important as well; they provide access to almost boundless information, safeguard our history, and foster a diverse, healthy community. But there is a fundamental component to which almost every library boils down: books. These common objects are often taken for granted, especially in a country where they are easily accessed for the majority. In the pages of these books, anything can be put down, from facts to stories to poetry to art; they’re quite versatile. Books allow communication with others–alive and dead–as they pass on ideas to inquisitive minds. They share stories and spark the imaginations of all ages. In short, books are paramount to any library, as they entertain and educate every person who picks them up.
This inherent value is recognized around the globe, as individuals and organizations have found creative ways to make books accessible to everyone in their communities. If that means traveling a great distance on horseback or battling the desert sands or re-purposing an old phone box, so be it; people will slip books into every nook and cranny of life to ensure that others have an opportunity to read. When books are easily obtained, the chances of people reading increase as do the rates of literacy. What’s not to like about that? So journey through the eleven libraries I’ve cataloged here and see how books have been (and are being!) shared in unique ways around the world.
Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. – Charles William Eliot
Unusual Libraries 