The Hopeful Story of the Man Carrying Books to the Villages with a Donkey

Mustafa Güzelgöz from Ürgüp, in his own words, besides the daily work of the people. to overcome ignorance and to encourage them to the path of goodness by making them habit of reading. He made an extraordinary effort to make his voice heard in Turkey and the world, rather than just the village of Karain in Ürgüp.

“If the public does not come to buy books, I will take the books to their feet.The story of Mustafa Güzelgöz, which has become a symbol in Turkish librarianship with the idea of ​​”, is the kind that can be pointed out with one’s finger.

Mustafa Güzelgöz, who did not have any knowledge or experience in librarianship at first, decides to create a modern and contemporary library by reading a book written on this subject.

First, the library Ottoman books left in a damp room takes it out. However, thinking that these books will not be enough for a library, he asks his acquaintances to donate all the books they have to the library.

Güzelgöz, who participated in various delegation trips with the district governor; While he sees that the people in the delegation such as doctors, veterinarians and teachers are loved and respected by the public, he thinks that he is not respected because he is a librarian.

At this point, Mustafa Güzelgöz, whose story begins, begins to think about how he can be useful to the public as a librarian and thinks about the library that the villager could not use due to the difficult situations he was in. to bring them to their feet decides.

The most suitable method for this is carrying books with donkeys The librarian, who decides that it is the case, takes the carpenter’s way by drawing the boxes where he will put the books. The librarian, who thinks everything in detail, prepares a notebook to take notes on the books he will lend and sets out to serve 36 villages.

Güzelgöz, who asks the villagers to finish the books within 15 days, will give new ones after the books are read and in this way gradually. habit of walking to the library will profit.

Mustafa Güzelgöz requests two new officer positions from the ministry in order to deliver the books to more people.

Güzelgöz, who adds the cost of the feed of his donkeys to his demands, achieves his goal and the people to be recruited to these staffs. owning a donkey and bringing books to at least 5 villages condition is sought.

The librarian, who wants to increase the number of books in his library, especially children’s books, writes letters to his acquaintances outside Ürgüp, and sending books to the library calls on it. After a short time, the books begin to arrive.

Mustafa Güzelgöz wants to turn this library into a socializing area and buys a radio to the library with the donations collected in order to attract the people here.

This radio succeeds in attracting the men of the village to the library, but the women continue to be busy with their housework and children. Güzelgöz, who was looking for ways to direct women to this place, collected some more donations. sewing machines to library buys.

The librarian, who dedicates certain days of the library to women, also to companies such as Zenith and Singer, which manufacture sewing machines. In the letters he wrote, he mentions his work and states that he wants to see their support. After this call, Zenith 9 sends Singer 1 sewing machine.

In this way sewing courses During the course, women are shown various resources on sewing, embroidery, cooking, child care and fashion, and these books are aimed to be read, and women are tried to gain the habit of reading by coming to the library.

The librarian with a donkey, also known as the donkey, gradually begins to give the classics to the villagers who have acquired the habit of reading. Thus, Balzac is recited in Karain village of Ürgüp.

Meanwhile, a competition is held in America in 1963. This competition takes place among creative people who serve their people and Mustafa Güzelgöz’s “Library with Donkey” project takes its place in this competition. A delegation of 3 people from the USA comes to Ürgüp and In addition to the literacy rate in the region, from the point where the library service comes from is also highly affected.

Mustafa Güzelgöz wins the competition and this news takes its place in the world press and receives great appreciation from different countries. Then the American Peace Corps visits Ürgüp and goes to the library. A 1960 Jeep gifts.

Fakir Baykurt, who was impressed by the life story of Mustafa Güzelgöz, who set an example for Turkey and the world, as well as what he brought to Ürgüp, said:Librarian with DonkeyWhile he was writing a novel with the name ” Aydın Advanced “Luminous from a DonkeyPublishes a work called “.

Mustafa Güzelgöz, who died in 2005, learning the intricacies of the profession from a handbook In the librarianship he started, he will always remain in our memories as an idealist who, as the “Librarian with Donkey”, achieved his goals by overcoming many difficulties for the sake of inculcating the habit of reading in his people.