えほんカーを被災地へ!The "Ehon Car" (Picture Book Car) Project

Since the "3.11 Picture Book Project in Iwate" was begun, nearly 100,000 books have arrived at the Morioka City Central Civic Center and more than 60,000 of them have been unpacked and sorted. The project has been delivering books to the children of the disaster-stricken areas since April 4, working with local volunteers to give readings for the children.
  From now on, the project will work to deliver picture books to the smaller evacuation centers and temporary housing sites.
  In many of the disaster areas, libraries, day care centers, and other facilities for children were destroyed, so it is difficult for local public services to house books. In order to deliver books and reading services to children more flexibly and in more remote areas, we have started the “Ehon Car” project.

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Our Mini Bookmobile

These days a regular-sized bookmobile is a huge bus-like vehicle that costs more than 10 million yen and requires a full-time driver, special insurance and taxes, and a permanent parking place. Such a large bookmobile is not suited to the needs and conditions of the areas stricken by the 3.11 disaster.
  Our idea is to custom-furnish lightweight vans as mini bookmobiles we will call “Ehon Cars” that can be driven by our volunteer staff and will be relatively inexpensive to maintain and fuel.

What They Will Cost

We are now collecting donations for this “Ehon Car” project. With funds from the donations received already, we will be able to purchase one. However, to sufficiently make the rounds of the disaster zone, which extends more than 100 kilometers along the coast of northeastern Honshu island, we will need several vehicles. Through the Disaster Support Assistance Fund and other means, we plan to raise enough money to purchase six. The cost per vehicle, including the regular inspection fees, tax, and insurance, is expected to be about 2.65 million yen.

Once the Project Ends

Once volunteer activities in the disaster areas and reconstruction of local public services get on track, the 3.11 Picture Book Project in Iwate will donate the Ehon Cars to local communities in the area. When the vehicles are handed over, they will of course be packed full of picture books!