This mobile bamboo library brings books and archaeology to kids

MANILA, Philippines – On some Saturdays, children living in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus village crowd around the mobile bamboo library.

Organized by archaeology students and faculty, the mobile library offers two things: books and sandboxes.

The organizers transport the books on a two-wheel trailer hitched to a bamboo bike. Once they set up the mobile library, volunteers from Tuklas Pilipinas hold sandbox sessions so kids can experience what archaeologists do in the field.

Tuklas is a nonprofit that promotes history and archaeology, formed within the UP School of Archaeology (UPSA).

For Ruben Reyes, one of the founders of the mobile library project, this it their way of inculcating heritage Filipino heritage in kids.

“It’s a statement about sustainability, it’s a statement about how much we can learn from the past,” Reyes said.

Reyes pointed out that our ancestors used bamboo thousands of years ago to create tools, weapons, kitchen implements, and other items. Bamboo is also a material for furniture and homebuilding. The books carry stories of the past or some imagined present.

One of these books, said Reyes, is Liwaliwa Malabed’s Matandang-matandang Buto: Ang Homo Luzonensis sa Filipinas.

RIDE. Reyes pedals the bamboo bike with the trailer carrying the books in the Academic Oval inside the University of the Philippines Diliman. Photo from Heritage on Wheels

Bikes and books

The idea of a traveling library is not new, and has evolved along with technology. In the 19th century, horse-drawn carriages were used to move books. Books were later loaded on automobiles. In archival photos, small crowds usually form around the moving libraries.

The mobile library continues to evolve. And those who want to implement this humble contraption can still find ways to infuse innovation.

The mobile bamboo library was a project conceived by people who worked in UPSA’s Solheim Library. In 2023, Reyes was working as a library assistant at Solheim. The head librarian, Theresa Lubang, helped come up with the idea of using a bamboo bike for the mobile library, said Reyes.

“For the longest time, we’ve been trying to come up with ideas of how we can bring reading closer to kids,” he said.

“And then we thought, what better way to do it than on something that we can also relate to Filipino heritage: a bamboo bike.”

It isn’t a stretch linking storytelling to their field. After all, archaeology has always been about informing historical narratives of the past through excavation of remains.

Kate Purnell of Tuklas said that during sandbox activities, they try to insert stories from their own field work experiences or important archaeological discoveries.

Some of these stories include the ancient human Homo luzonensis discovered in Callao Cave in Cagayan, the butchered rhino that dates as far back as 700,000 years ago.

“We try to incorporate these stories as well so that they get to…connect that it’s not just an abstract fun activity,” Purnell said. “These are actual experiences that you can also witness happening throughout Philippine history.”

MOBILE. Kids peruse a book from the mobile bamboo library. Photo from Heritage on Wheels

More bamboo libraries in the future

The bamboo bike used for the mobile library came from the local enterprise Bambike. Some people would be familiar with the business as they run the bamboo bike rental in Intramuros and hold tours inside the famed Walled City.

“Bambike just came in as kind of a support role. We conceptualized the idea together and came up with some design ideas for the rolling Bambike trailer library,” said BamBike founder Bryan McClelland.

McClelland was referring to Reyes and the team, saying Bambike was “kind of just a hardware supplier and supporter.” The trailer that the project team uses was upcycled — it used to transport McClelland’s dog.

The Filipino-American founder, 41, started the bamboo bike enterprise 15 years ago. At that time, Bambike’s focus was creating jobs.

SHARING STORIES. Volunteers for the mobile bamboo library hold a storytelling session. Photo from Heritage on Wheels

A bamboo bike is an image of a green lifestyle. Bike commuters can reduce carbon footprint by opting to use the bike instead of private vehicles. Bamboos grow quickly too and are considered renewable resources. They are also durable, lasting a long time.

“The first bike I built 15 years ago is still in good shape,” shared McClelland.

Inspired by the initiative in Diliman, McClelland said they had been coordinating with Reyes’ team regarding the possible extension of the mobile library in Batangas and Tarlac.

He said he is in the process of obtaining books and National Geographic magazines, flying some of them in balikbayan boxes from the United States.

“We’ve been compiling all of the resources so that in our community, we can provide more environmental education and just general access to more books,” McClelland said. – Rappler.com