As Lallybroch is a small
community library, I have always been extremely interested in learning about
the different types of libraries around the world. After looking around the web
I was amazed at what I found. From travelling animals to spaceships here is a
look at 4 of the more peculiar libraries I found around the world.
Mechanical Libraries
Its
not just snacks that can be purchased from vending machines anymore. Across
cities around the world vending machines with your favourite titles can be
found. With 24/7 access these machines can be found at train stations, shopping
centres, airports and even hospitals. These machines have been around since the
1930’s, but more have been popping up in recent years. A study in California
has suggested that circulation of books had increased by 8% in the first year
of operation of one of their machines and in Beijing the machines account for
31.6% of books borrowed. Would you use one of these machines?
(photo from Pinterest)
I would walk 500 miles
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to
head to their local library and browse the shelves. Some people living in
remote communities may have never even set foot in a library. But 2 donkeys in
rural Columbia and some camels in Kenya are making it possible for patrons to
have access to reading materials. Biblioburro is run by Luis Soriano who first
started visiting rural villages in Columbia in 1990, when he realised he had ‘two
unemployed donkey’s at home’. In addition to supplying books to the young
people of the villages he visits, Luis also helps with homework and reads to
the children. Donkeys are not the only animals to deliver
books to remote areas. In 1985 the Kenya National Library Service employed the
services of camels travelling with librarians to reach nomadic communities
across the desert.
(itzuvit & BookAid.org)
Rolling down the
river
Another library servicing remote area’s is the
Epos Book Boat. First established in 1959, the boat travels between the months
of September to April, visiting more than 250 small community islands in the
fjords of Norway. The library holds 53,300 titles in its collection, though
only 6000 can be transported at any one time. Just like a regular library,
there are also programs and activities offered to young and old, area’s to read
and relax and live entertainment. As the boat travels in the winter months, I am
sure many people highly anticipate the arrival of Epos!
(ebookfriendly.com)
Bookless Library
Is the library of the future a library without
books? BiblioTech is the first and only all-digital public library in the US. There
are currently two branches, located in Texas, with a third to open this year.
The first opened in 2013 and the second in 2015. You are still issued a library
card and can still check books out, just not in the traditional way. Users can
borrow e-readers which can hold 5 books at a time, or you can download straight
to your own device. Like “normal” libraries books are not the only thing
BiblioTech offers. You can download movies, music, audio-books and magazines to
name a few. Another cool feature of BiblioTech is the book club they offer. If
you cant make it in person, just jump on-line to join in!
(photo from Pinterest)
