Afghan children read books beside a mobile library bus in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan, on March 7, 2022. A mobile library bus navigates around northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, promoting book reading among youth and children. (Photo by Khaibar Momand/Xinhua)
KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, March 25 (Xinhua) -- A mobile library bus navigates around northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, promoting book reading among youth and children.
The library bus has a librarian and driver on board, and is stocked with 1,800 books in Dari, Pashto and English, with topics ranging from science, culture, stories, politics and history.
Abdul Qahar Hisaabi, director of Kuhandazh Institute of Higher Education, which sponsored the mobile library bus, told Xinhua that the culture of book reading in Afghanistan has been negatively affected by the two-decade conflict and war, as well as by the Internet and smartphones.
Most people are now looking for E-contents instead of reading printed books inside a library, Hisaabi said.
"By offering mobile library services, our aim is to help the students of Kuhandazh institute, students of other private and state-run universities as well as the school children to have access to books in an easy way in Kunduz city and urban districts," said Hisaabi.
Since the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces in August, 2021, the economic situation has further deteriorated in the country.
Most universities and public school students came from low-income families who can hardly afford books, said Hisaabi. "The library bus service is a good opportunity for students," he said.
"We have one bus for now, but I am hopeful, we will improve the free services," he said, adding that the bus has been navigating around Kunduz for two years.
"A society in which its people study and earn knowledge, will definitely achieve prosperity and comfort," Naqibullah Mumand, a visitor of the bus, told Xinhua.
"I normally visit this mobile library to read and learn about culture, society and history. I like to read storybooks and English books," Somya Naqshbandi, a student, told Xinhua.
"I am very happy for having the opportunity to read books just outside my school. And I am thankful to those who encourage us to read and support us to have access to the free library," she said.
In the national capital of Kabul, similarly, a local organization offers free mobile library services as five colorful buses have been navigating around the city with an around 5 million population, giving kids the chance to read, play and enjoy their childhood. ■
Afghan children read books beside a mobile library bus in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan, on March 7, 2022. A mobile library bus navigates around northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, promoting book reading among youth and children. (Photo by Khaibar Momand/Xinhua)
Afghan children read books in a mobile library bus in Kunduz city, northern Afghanistan, on March 7, 2022. A mobile library bus navigates around northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, promoting book reading among youth and children. (Photo by Khaibar Momand/Xinhua)
