In many places, library books are delivered by car or truck. However, camels are especially useful in desert regions like Garissa. The landscape is so rough that many vehicles have trouble getting there.
Local residents are used to seeing products such as food and medicine arrive by camel. "The local people identify so much with the camel," says Rashid Farah, "and therefore, we feel that if they see the camel transporting books, they'll come and use the services."