Racine Reads: The Camel Bookmobile

Racine Reads' ninth selection will be The Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton.

Racine Reads is a community-wide reading project in which residents are encouraged to read the same book at the same time. The project seeks to promote reading and dialog among the people of Racine County.

Masha Hamilton's main character 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 following Racine Reads events will take place in April and May:

• Book Discussion at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh St., on Tuesday, April 15, at 2 p.m., led by Muggs Mueller. Call the library at 262.636.9217 for more information.

• "The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back: Transitioning to New Careers," at the Racine Public Library, 75 Seventh Street, on Monday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m. led by Michelle Nevarez-Larkin of the Workforce Development Center. Call Michelle at 262.638.6428 for more information.

• Book Discussion and Book Drive for the Camel Library Service in Kenya at the Rochester Public Library, 208 W. Spring St. in Rochester, on Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m. The Racine Reads Camel will be accepting donations of new or gently used books for the Camel Library Service in Kenya. Call 262.534.3533 for more information.

• Afternoon Delight book discussion at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2710 S. Green Bay Rd., on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at 1pm. Call 262.598.9757 for more information.

• Author Masha Hamilton will speak and sign books at the Racine Public Library on Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. The Racine Reads Camel will be accepting donations of new or gently used books for the Camel Library Service in Kenya. The Mobile Library will be parked outside the library with an exhibit of Sixty Years of Mobile Service, and will be offering tours. Call 262.636.9217 for more information.