asakiyume: (Em)
asakiyume ([personal profile] asakiyume) wrote2014-03-24 10:46 am

biblioburros

I just learned from Little Springtime about the existence of bibioburros--like bookmobiles, only with burros instead of vans to carry books to isolated households on Colombia's Caribbean shore.

The program's founder, Luis Soriano, is a primary school teacher. His portable library started with just 70 books, but grew to several thousand volumes, thanks to donations. Soriano has two burros, Alfa and Beto, who carry the books. This Wikipedia article on bibiloburros tells of much excitement (for example, bandits tied up Soriano and stole the novel Brida, by Paulo Coelho, when they discovered Soriano had no money on him) and many ups and downs (Soriano had to have a leg amputated after an accident), but the program continues.


Luis Soriano and his biblioburros (Photo: Scott Dalton; Source: New York Times, article here)


(Also from the New York Times)


Re: Life: Cooler than fiction

[identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com 2014-03-24 03:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] mnfaure!! So good to see you! ((hugs tight)) I hope little K is doing well!

And yes, Mr. Soriano totally, totally rocks.

Edited 2014-03-24 15:19 (UTC)

Re: Life: Cooler than fiction

[identity profile] mnfaure.livejournal.com 2014-03-24 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
*hugs back* I'm here-ish, and I almost got around to posting an entry today. Alas it must remain "almost" because I have to hie myself off to bed. Maybe tomorrow!