Home Plan - [JG3-L2-U1-LC3-12 Communication – Media – My Librarian is a Camel]

The document highlights the significance of books and libraries in remote regions like Nunavut, Canada, and Gullkrona, Republic of Finland, emphasizing how programs such as Borrower-by-Mail and book boats play a crucial role in providing access to reading materials in areas with limited traditional library access. It discusses initiatives like book boats in Finland and camel-delivered books in Kenya and Mongolia, underscoring the value of books as sources of information and entertainment. The document also features the dedication of individuals like Mr. Jambyn Dashdondog, a librarian in Mongolia, who travels vast distances in extreme weather conditions to bring books to children in remote locations. Furthermore, it discusses innovative initiatives like the library train in Bangkok, which provides a safe learning space for homeless children, highlighting the importance of education and care for vulnerable populations.

Contents

• Pages 1—22: Remote library importance
• Pages 23—41: Book boat for children’s reading.
• Pages 42—60: Passionate librarian outreach
• Pages 61—68: Library train for homeless children in Bangkok, education initiative.

This section of the document discusses the importance of books and libraries to people and communities, specifically in regions like Nunavut, Canada, and Gullkrona, Republic of Finland. It explores how communities in these remote areas gain access to books through programs like Borrower-by-Mail and book boats delivered by libraries. The text also describes the unique challenges faced by individuals living in remote regions with extreme weather conditions and limited access to traditional libraries. The document emphasizes the role of libraries in fostering a reading culture and providing access to information even in isolated areas.

The section of the document describes the essential role of a book boat, named Kalkholm, that sails among the Islands in the Gulf of Finland, carrying about six hundred books for children. The librarians on board, including the chief librarian Maj-Len, ensure that children in this remote and harsh landscape have access to reading materials. The boat only operates from May to October due to severe winters in Finland. The text emphasizes that without the book boat, children in these rocky and isolated islands might not have any access to books at all. Additionally, the document highlights similar initiatives in other locations, like using camels to bring books to nomadic villages in Kenya and Mongolia, where books are treasured due to their importance as the primary source of information and entertainment. It details how books are highly valued by children in Mongolia, with examples of a well-known writer, Jambyn Dashdondog, bringing books to children in the Gobi Desert and organizing book tours named “candy books” as children find books sweeter than candies. Lastly, it mentions Mr. Dashdondog’s dedication to his work as a librarian, reaching thousands of children, covering vast distances, and working in extreme weather conditions.

Mr. Dashdondog, a librarian, expresses his passion for his work by sharing his recent trip to visit herders’ children in the Great Gobi Desert, where he covered 1500 kilometers in two weeks during the cold winter. Despite challenges such as using summer fuel that froze in the bus, his dedication to reaching children with stories and heroes kept him warm. This section highlights Mr. Dashdondog’s enthusiasm for engaging with children through storytelling and his willingness to overcome obstacles to bring books to remote areas.

The section of the document discusses a unique initiative in Bangkok where the Railway Police Division transformed old train carriages into a library and classroom for homeless children. The police refurbished the trains with wood paneling and shining copper light fixtures, creating a safe learning space for the children. Additionally, the area around the train was transformed into a garden where herbs and vegetables are grown. This initiative provides a safe place for street children to learn to read and write, emphasizing education and care for those in need. The document also compares this library train to the Books-by-Elephant program, highlighting the different locations and populations served by each program.