I is for Iraq
One of the saddest things imaginable to bibliophiles, is the destruction of a library. Librarians fearlessly defend the right of their patrons to have access to information and they care for the collections entrusted to them so that they will be available for future generations.
Alia Muhammad Baker was the chief librarian of Basra’s Central Library in Iraq. She welcomed people into the library and made it a place where ideas and research could be discussed and shared each afternoon. The library’s collection was vast and valuable and included books in English, Arabic, and Spanish. There were manuscripts that were hundreds of years old and a biography of the Prophet Muhammad written around 1300.
When the war in Iraq began in 2003, government troops moved into the library and set up offices. Alia asked the governor to move the books to safety but he refused. Alia decided to take action and she began filling her car with books after work each day and drove them to her home which quickly became filled with books. When the British invaded the city, she found that the government troops had left and no one was guarding the library. She talked to the restaurant owner next door who agreed to help her get as many books as possible out of the library. Armfuls of books were lifted over the seven foot wall and stacked in the rooms of the restaurant.Friends and employees joined them and they worked through the night. They were able to get seventy percent of the books to safety. Soon after, the library was burned to the ground.
Alia Muhammad Baker suffered a stroke and had heart surgery. The library still has not been rebuilt but she isn’t giving up hope that the library will once again hold the books she is storing and become a center for learning.
The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq (Harcourt: 2005) tells the story of this brave and determined librarian. The author, Jeanette Winter, shows how one person can make a difference. The book also shows how important books, libraries, literacy, and the exchange of ideas are to a community. Winter’s folk art illustrations perfectly match the text and give a glimpse into the life and culture of Iraq. This is a book that will inspire elementary aged students.
For fans of graphic novels, you can read about this heroine in Alia’s Mission: Saving the Books of Iraq by Marks Alan Stamaty (Dragonfly Books, 2010). The story of Alia’s bravery is dramatically told and focuses on the importance of books and the impact that war has on a country and its citizens.
This post is part of the A to Z Blog Challenge. Thanks for joining me as I share Library Love through the alphabet.
Hi Claire – what an amazing post … I saw your link above mine as I entered my link into the post for today. I’d no idea about this lady, or the library in Basra – how interesting to learn about it – and now I wonder what’s happened to all the books and is there someone else who has taken the care and love of the library at Basra .. I’ll be back to read your other posts … Brilliant – thanks so much … cheers Hilary
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Alia Muhammad Baker sounds amazing! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of her (well I can as that always happens with awesome women throughout history) I’ll definitely be checking out the graphic novel about her 🙂
Elena @ ElenaSquareEyes recently posted…I is for Imagine Dragons
I have read about this story, but I didn’t know the books you published about. What a pity, and rage, when you think of all the destruction of war!
Thank you for sharing about this brave lady. Build A Better Blog: I is for Interesting Images. #AtoZchallenge.
What an incredible story! We take for granted having libraries whenever we want them. Sometimes, that wouldn’t be the case were it not for people such as Alia. I will think of her next time I’m there to get a new audio book (just a matter of days, really.)
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Eli@CoachDaddy
H is for Halfway There
Hi Eli,
You are right. We don’t really appreciate our libraries. They need all the support they can get.
Claire, this is a wonderful story! Thank you for telling is about Alia Muhammad Baker.
Hi Trine, I was inspired by her story. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I was browsing through our school library in Fresno this week while the students are away on spring break. I found a copy of The Librarian of Basra! So excited to read this beautiful book and her story.
Hi Trina, It is an inspiring book. I am reading all of Jeannette Winter’s books. She is a wonderful writer.