Spaceship to the Universe: The Story of Libraries

• The book explores the many forms libraries have taken throughout history. Readers discover libraries located in unexpected places, including boats, telephone booths, on the backs of donkeys and elephants, and even in space. Along the way, they meet remarkable people who have worked to make books accessible to communities around the world.

  Written in an accessible and lively style, the book presents libraries not simply as buildings filled with books, but as places of freedom, knowledge, imagination and discovery.

• Shruthi Rao has a master's degree in energy engineering and previously worked in the IT industry before becoming a writer. She has written several books for children, including 10 Indian Women Who Were the First to Do What They Did, 20 Indians Who Changed the World and Susie Will Not Speak.

  Anuradha Jagalur has a master's degree in physics and is a teacher. She has taught children of different ages, written articles in Kannada, translated between Kannada and English, and edited English manuscripts. Her interest in books, science, music, hiking and gardening informs her diverse creative work.

Spaceship to the Universe takes readers on a worldwide tour of libraries, from some of the oldest and largest collections to extraordinary libraries created in unusual locations. The book looks at how libraries have survived wars, geographical challenges and changing times while continuing to connect people with knowledge and stories.

With fascinating examples and stories about librarians, writers and other people committed to preserving access to books, the authors show why libraries matter. The result is an entertaining and informative introduction to the history, diversity and enduring importance of libraries.