Our Mobile Library: Bringing Books to the Desert
Our mobile library started with a donkey pulling a wagon full of old books through the streets of Lakia over three decades ago. Amal, Naama, Chessin and our other founders realized the importance of building a tradition of reading among Bedouin children where no public or school libraries existed. Today our library is housed in a special vehicle which serves over 2,000 children and lends books in Arabic, Hebrew and English.
Our Objectives:
To foster a love of reading in Bedouin children
To improve children’s school achievements
To widen children’s horizons and general knowledge
To establish a tradition of reading that will continue in future generations
We operate the library in partnership with the Israeli non-profit Key Books. The library vehicle travels to schools and villages six days a week, including weekends. Our librarians are Bedouin college students whose earnings help finance their education. We operate the only mobile library in the Bedouin community in the northern Negev.
We are proud to be part of a program developed by the Israeli Ministry of Culture to operate three mobile libraries in the Arab sector. Five mornings a week, our library visits ten schools in southern Israel and also provides summer enrichment programs.
In addition to lending books free of charge to children and youth, the mobile library staff initiates reading enrichment activities during school vacations and organizes book days.
We need donations to buy new books* in Arabic, art supplies for enrichment activities, pay librarian’s salaries and much more. To donate, please click here or contact us.
*Please do not send us used books in English.
To donate, please click here or contact us.
Our Library Activities in the Villages
Our Library Activities in Schools
