Book explores bringing library to Kenya

I went to Africa some time ago and joined a tour of libraries in rural Zimbabwe. It was in 1999, before things got so very bad in that troubled country. We visited two villages in a remote area. Each had only recently gotten electricity, but both had small public libraries - sources of much community pride. In both cases, I walked up and down the aisles looking at the books and found, much to my surprise, several volumes by Minnesota humorist Garrison Keillor, in pristine condition. It made me smile because it was so ludicrous to see such books there.

Many native-born Americans would not understand Garrison Keillor's regional humor. I surmised the books had been donated and sent, probably at great expense, across the seas. They were still in excellent condition because they were so irrelevant. Most of the other books were well used beyond belief.

More recently I was given a book, "The Camel Bookmobile" by Masha Hamilton. As a librarian, the title intrigued me. I started reading on a long plane ride and found the book to be not only a cracking good story but also very insightful.

Fiona Sweeney is a young librarian who believes passionately in the power of books. She has energy and desperately wants to make a difference. Leaving her comfortable circle of friends and her safe library job in Brooklyn, New York, Fiona becomes part of an experimental effort to serve nomadic tribes in Kenya. Boxes of books are strapped onto camels and walked out into the bush - three hours out and three hours back.

Are books powerful? You bet. In "The Camel Bookmobile," books are like apples of discord bringing new ideas, new ways of doing things, new modes of behavior and change to a culture that has been largely the same for thousands of years. In a way, it makes you wonder about the hubris of such an experiment.

Can you feel the tension building? Well add into the mix the hard and fast rule that all library books must be returned by everyone in the community at the time of the next visit of the camel bookmobile. If not, bookmobile service will be withdrawn and extended to another community. No exceptions.

This book has it all: obviously tension and suspense, but also love, wisdom, wonder and aspiration along with misunderstanding, violence, and failed dreams.

I don't want to spoil it for you, but there's not a Hollywood ending here. To me, the ending was just perfect, but the book's author, Masha Hamilton, told me she had received an e-mail message from a librarian who found the ending troubling.

Listen to my podcast interview with Hamilton at www.librarybeat.org. Hamilton spent many years as a journalist working all over the world, often in dangerous conditions or dire circumstances. Motherhood and perhaps a change of heart prompted her to write fiction. "The Camel Bookmobile" is her third fiction title. First printed in 2007, it has done very well.

The camel bookmobile is a real effort in Kenya and more books are needed. Hamilton has set up an interesting web site (www.camelbookdrive.wordpress.com) with information about the project and how individuals can help. It just might be easier to send money than to try and figure out what books are wanted, needed and relevant. Remember my Garrison Keillor experience!