More than Books : Why the World Needs Libraries

Libraries are constantly changing and growing, just like us!With the help of librarians, they are special places where everyone is welcome to find books they love, learn new skills and be a part of the community. From the historic Library of Alexandria to mobile camel libraries and little free libraries at the end of driveways, libraries continue to evolve and reflect the needs of each and every reader.More than Books flips through the history of written records, from clay tablets to e-readers, and explores why and how humans record and preserve their stories and information. It celebrates librarians who have made a difference throughout history—some who have even smuggled books to keep them from being destroyed during wars. While libraries began as places to protect and preserve knowledge, they have grown into community hubs where everyone can access diverse books, pick up a new hobby and fall in love with reading.Praise for Margriet Ruurs:? "Ruurs writes purely and warmly...She deftly conveys the happiness of peaceful childhood, then the confusion and the fears born of war and migration, and the relief and curiosity of arriving at a new home."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review for Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey