Astride his white mare, a wide-brimmed hat shielding his eyes, Ridwan Sururi looks more cowboy than librarian as he winds towards the hilltop village, his horse Luna saddled with books.
Their arrival sends ripples of excitement through Serang, a quiet hamlet fringed by rice fields and a volcano on Indonesia’s main island of Java.
“The horse library!” children shriek, sprinting towards the mosque where Luna is tethered. Slung over her saddle are two handmade wooden boxes filled with books. For many there, this unique mobile library is their only link to books. There is no traditional library nearby, and stores are miles away in big cities. Mr. Sururi, a 43-year-old professional horse groomer, devised a unique way to encourage reading in his district.
Along with Luna, one of several horses under his care, and about 100 books donated from a friend, Mr. Sururi began road-testing his novel mobile library in early 2015, unsure if it would succeed.
It was a huge hit. In no time, the father of four was fielding requests from schools and villages further afield, eager crowds greeting him on arrival.
“The kids are always waiting,” Mr. Sururi said, “Sometimes they even form a queue, waiting a very long time just to borrow a book.”
In Serang, enthusiastic youngsters flick through picture books, young adult titles and even some classics in English.
Some shyly pet Luna while waiting their turn to browse. Mr. Sururi believes the gentle nature of his six-year-old mare helps attract children, and pique an early interest in the books.
“The horse makes me happy,” said ten-year-old Arif, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, before settling in to read a book titled Wild Animals .
Adults are almost just as enthusiastic, many pausing work and emerging from their homes as Mr. Sururi and Luna pass through the narrow lanes of one village.
“The horse library helps increase the knowledge of local women through reading,” said 17-year-old Warianti.
The spines of all books are clearly labelled with a code for identification, and Mr. Sururi keeps meticulous records so books are returned on time. Books can be borrowed free of charge but cannot be loaned forever.
Mr. Sururi checks his notebook and tells one boy he needs to first return an outstanding title before loaning another. The young student sprints off home, returning a short while later clutching the forgotten item, relieved to see his choice remains untouched on the shelf. — AFP
