Monday, May 19, 2008

Saturday, May 31: Celebrate Racine Reads with Author Masha Hamilton

Join the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., for a celebration of the Racine Reads ninth community read selection, The Camel Bookmobile, on Saturday, May 31, 2-4 p.m. The event will feature a presentation and book-signing by author Masha Hamilton (2-3 p.m.), a children's storytime and craft program (3:30-4 p.m.), and Mobile Library exhibits and tours (throughout). The Racine Reads "Camel" will also be present to accept donations of new or gently used books for the Camel Library Service in Kenya.

The Camel Bookmobile tells the story of Fiona Sweeney, an American librarian who leaves a good job in the city to move to Africa and take books to a nomadic people. Instead of a bookmobile, the Camel Library Service in Kenya loads camels with books. The people must return all the books they borrowed before they are allowed to take out more books. It's a wonderful look at how literature enhances and impacts the lives of the Kenyan people.

The book was selected because of its emphasis on library outreach: taking library services into the community. In 2008, the Racine Public Library celebrates the 60th anniversary of its mobile library services. The Mobile Library will be on exhibition for this author event offering tours and a pictorial history of outreach services at the Racine Public Library.

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