环球英语 — 217：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. It visits the same places on the same day each week. That way people know when to expect the library.
Voice 1
When Rashid and his team arrive they must set up the library. They put mats and blankets on the ground. Then they unload the books. Sometimes they put a tent over the books to protect them.
Voice 2
People love the Camel Mobil Library. Children wait and wait for the camels, and the books, to arrive. There are three thousand five hundred [3500] people who are library members. That is, they can use any book they would like. Rashid says that the number of the members is high. He says there are more members of the Camel Library than libraries in cities nearby.
Voice 1
The people in Garissa know that books are important. But, they are not able to buy books of their own. They do not have enough money. They must use all of their money for food and shelter. Often people cannot pay for school either. The children must take care of the animals. Because of this, eighty–five [85] percent of the people in Garissa are illiterate. They cannot read.
Voice 2
But, that is starting to change. Because of the Camel Mobil Library more people are learning how to read. Rashid makes sure that the team carries books for everybody—both children and adults. They carry books for people who know how to read well. And they carry books for people who are just learning to read. Some of the books are the same books that the local schools use. That way, children who cannot go to school can still read school books.
Voice 1
The local schools have also reported a difference in their students’ learning. They say that their level of education has improved. More children are reading. And many of them did very well on their national test.
Voice 2
Rashid and his team love what they do. But, they do have limits. They feel discouraged sometimes. They would like to improve a few things about the library. First, they wish that they had more money to reach more people. With more money they could buy a motorcycle to assist their camels. Second, the team would like to have land to help feed their camels. And third, they wish that they had a few female camels. Then they could mate their male and female camels. This would provide them with more camels. Then, they could reach even more people in Garrisa.
Voice 1
Rashid and his team may feel discouraged sometimes. But, the Camel Mobile Library is doing very good work. Being able to read is important. Literacy can help people do well in school. Literacy can help people get better jobs. And literacy can help to expand peoples’ worlds. Anyone can travel around the world through reading a book!
