Women
in the Appalachian mountains on horseback delivering books and reading
to those who could not as a feature of the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) of the 1930’s. Established in 1935, the Pack Horse Library
Project was aimed at providing reading materials to rural portions of
Eastern Kentucky with no access to public library facilities. Librarians
riding horses or mules traveled 50 to 80 miles a week up rocky
creekbeds, along muddy footpaths, and among cliffs to deliver reading
materials to the most remote residences and schools in the mountains.
Some homes were so remote that the book women often had to go part of
the way on foot, or even by row boat. — with Stephanie McSpirit.Source: Voices of Appalachia (FB)
Petition to bring back librarians on horses