Cowra Library lends a hand to Books for the Outback

However for those living in remote regions of NSW and South Australia, it's a completely different story.

Cowra Library has teamed up with Books for the Outback as a drop-off point for donations, with books being delivered to people who live and work on stations in some of the most isolated parts of rural Australia.

Cowra librarian Terry Mills-Edwards said she approached Luke, who runs Books for the Outback, a number of months ago and believes it is a worthy cause.

"We are, after all, about bookings, reading, lifelong learning and education and recreation so it was a perfect cause," she said.

"We're more than willing to support him in his endeavours."

Six boxes of books were loaded up on Monday morning, and Ms Mills-Edwards said there were a wide variety of donations, including some from her own collection and that of Orange City Library manager Roslyn Cousins.

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"I purchased a few books when I was in Queensland during that first lockdown period and those books have been included in that collection as well," she said.

"We also have people who don't come back to pick up lost items so they too get included in the Books for the Outback collection."

Cowra resident, Robyn Guihot, assists Luke by picking up donations before they are taken to areas such as White Cliffs, Camerons Corner, Inaminka, Wanaaring and into South Australia.

The next stop is Tibooburra.

"Then we will go back and get the next sized trailer that he's loaded and do an outback run, probably through Inverell, Moree, some other areas, then we will do the hot areas in April," Ms Guihot said.

"He hopes to do different stations to what he did last run."

Ms Guihot said she got involved after hosting a "free COVID library" in her garage throughout the pandemic.

"I was asked do I have any excess donated to me and I said yes, so now most of them go to Luke," she said.

"As soon as he comes to town, it's all packed up ready to go and get another lot.

"The main thing that I think is very important in Luke's credit here, is that this is self-funded. He's a very generous gentleman."

Ms Guihot said Books for the Outback provides an invaluable service to those in remote locations.

"These people are extremely isolated with limited facilities available, they might go to town every six months," she said.

"The children's books are extremely invaluable because, they might not have internet, they might have limited internet, which is used for business."

It's a service, Ms Mills-Edwards said, she wishes she had access to during her childhood.

"I grew up on an outstation in New Guinea," she said.

"I had one book, Famous Five goes to Treasure Island, finish it, start, finish, start, finish, start.

"So I understand how isolation can affect your mental health."

If you would like to donate to Books for the Outback, you can drop off books at the Library, Signs R Us or Cowra Paint Plus, who generously donated labour to create a tarpoline for one of Luke's trailers.

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