Taxis that smell of books; Honoring Kermanshah’s Cultural Ambassadors

According to the reporter of the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Kermanshah, on the occasion of Book and Reading Week in Kermanshah, three active ‘taxi-book’ drivers in this city were honored and received new packages of books to continue their cultural activities. Taxi-books are taxis that dedicate a part of their space to a small mobile library, allowing passengers to read, and are considered an example of public efforts to expand the culture of reading in the city.

Cultural Officials Appreciate Book Ambassadors

Mozaffar Teimouri, Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Kermanshah, appreciated the activities of the taxi-book drivers at the ceremony, stating: “They are the cultural ambassadors of the province, and the work they do is rarely seen elsewhere.”

He added: “This project, which started with one taxi, is now expanding, and it is hoped that it will extend to buses and other public transportation vehicles.”

Teimouri emphasized: “The goal of the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance is to develop and promote the culture of books and reading, and cultural taxis can be very effective in this path.”

He continued: “This activity is not limited to just one day or week, and the Department of Guidance will continuously support them, hoping that through follow-ups, the number of taxi-books in the city will increase.”

Outlook for Project Expansion in Public Transportation

Mohsen Kermian, Deputy Director of Culture and Media of the Kermanshah Guidance Department, also considered the activities of taxi-books to be one of the best cultural initiatives in the province, stating: “This project can be extended to other guilds and public transportation vehicles, so that we may witness the flourishing of reading culture in Kermanshah, and this action can establish Kermanshah as a creative city in promoting reading.”

Following this, three active drivers in the taxi-book project introduced themselves and shared their experiences and concerns.

Saeed Mohammadi, a cultural taxi driver, stated: “I started my activity in 2019 to spread books and reading throughout the city, and now other friends have joined me on this path.”

Taxi-Book: A Model for Sustainable Cultural Development in Kermanshah

He added: “In the taxi, I mostly place psychology books, literature, and short stories so that passengers can read even on short journeys.”

Saber Bashiri, the founder of the first taxi-book in Kermanshah and the western region, introduced himself as follows: “I am the first library taxi in Kermanshah and the entire western region, and I started this cultural work on May 14, 2017, inside my taxi. After me, Moradi and Saeed Mohammadi joined us and worked hard; I hope the day comes when books are available in all taxis in the city, and Kermanshah is introduced as a city of culture.”

From Mockery to Public Welcome; A Difficult but Promising Path

He further explained his initial experiences and challenges on the path: “Initially, I faced mockery from others and even my colleagues, but due to respect for people and a personal interest in books, I continued. My only request is that the Director-General of Guidance, in a meeting with the Head of the Transportation Organization, facilitate an increase in the number of book-reading taxis and that our three pictures be placed on station banners to encourage other drivers. Our sole goal is to spread the culture of reading, and we hope these efforts become sustainable.”

Vahid Moradi, another taxi-book driver, after introducing himself, said: “I started my activity in 2018, and along this path, I witnessed public support, but unfortunately, the Taxi Organization does not provide the necessary support. The people of Kermanshah are very happy with this initiative and welcome it, and this is our motivation to continue our work.”

Expansion of Taxi-Book from One Vehicle to a Citywide Movement

He continued about his concerns and problems: “Our main problem is the lack of support from the Taxi Organization and the scarcity of facilities, but with repeated follow-ups, we hope that the number of book-reading taxis will increase and the necessary facilities for replacing vehicles and developing the project will be provided; our goal is to create a positive and cultural environment for passengers and promote reading in society.”

All drivers present at this event emphasized that their goal is to create a positive and cultural environment for passengers and hope that their activities will become a sustainable model for the development of reading in Kermanshah.