Not your average library

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)

Wonderfully Weird Libraries - visit this link to see more. Have you visited any of these libraries?