Not every village in India has a library, but that doesn’t mean stories can’t find their way there. In places where the internet is patchy, schools are basic, and bookshops are non-existent, a new chapter is being written, quite literally.

Across the country, books are hitting the road (and sometimes the sand) thanks to some clever, heartfelt ideas. From horseback to camel carts to vans stacked with shelves, mobile libraries are doing what Google can’t – bringing real books into real hands.

Uttarakhand’s Ghoda Library: Books that trot in

In the hills of Uttarakhand, where narrow trails and tricky terrain keep most vehicles out, a young man found an old-school fix: horses. Shubham Badhani launched the Ghoda Library with just that: a horse carrying bags full of books to kids in hard-to-reach villages.

Once a week, the horse makes its round, and children wait excitedly to pick up a new read. For many, it’s the first time they’re flipping through pages that........

© The Better India