Back Porch Book Chat: Kirsten Turner, the 21st c. Packhorse Librarian

Once upon a time, during the Great Depression, “packhorse librarians” set out to carry books into the hills of Appalachia.

Fast forward to the 21st century, after Hurricane Helene’s devastating effects swept through those same hills, and a new packhorse librarian movement is afoot. Today, I interview the woman who started it all: Kirsten Turner.

Note: We ran an abridged version of this interview in our Spring, 2025, “Love Your Neighbor” Redeemed Reader Quarterly. It was a key feature of our Appalachia mini-section.

Kirsten, how did you get the idea to start the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians?

The idea for the 21st Century Packhorse Librarian came together through a combination of inspiration and circumstance. In 2020, I read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, which introduced me to the history of the original Packhorse Librarians. That story stayed with me. Then, more recently, I came across a blog and podcast by Sara Masarik  discussing the Packhorse Librarians again, along with some children’s picture books on the topic. Intrigued, I ordered two of those books, That Book Woman and The Horseback Librarian. They arrived just before Hurricane Helene hit, and during the storm, while we were without power, I read them.

The story of the Packhorse Librarians was fresh in my mind when my husband and I visited family in Asheville after the hurricane. Seeing the destruction in the area, we brought basic supplies, but I felt compelled to do more. I realized I could follow in the spirit of the Packhorse Librarians and bring books to people, offering hope and encouragement during a difficult time. On October 14, 2024, we officially decided to launch the initiative and began planning to collect gently used books to deliver throughout the mountains.

I love the connection of books and mission! What is one of your favorite stories from your experience?

One of my favorite experiences with the initiative has been meeting our youngest “Packhorse Librarian,” Jenavieve. It happened during an event we hosted in Burnsville, North Carolina. A 10-year-old girl approached me, asking for help finding historical fiction. The way she spoke about books made it clear she was a dedicated reader, and I realized she was looking for more advanced titles. I helped her pick out several books, and she thanked me warmly before heading off.

Later, she and her mom were having lunch with my parents at the church, and she asked my dad if he knew who had organized the event—she wanted to meet them. My dad told her it was his daughter and brought her over to introduce us. That’s when she realized I was the same person who had helped her earlier; she’d thought I was just a volunteer. It was such a sweet moment.

What made the interaction even more special was learning her story. After Hurricane Helene, her family had gone 37 days without power. Her mom shared that Jenavieve had been counting down the days to our event on a calendar. Afterward, she told her mom it was the best thing to happen since the hurricane. She left with armfuls of books and so much joy.

Since then, we’ve kept in touch with Jenavieve and her mom, Jamie. They’ve become key volunteers at our events, and Jenavieve is now officially our youngest Packhorse Librarian. She’s even been interviewed by the news! She has a natural talent for connecting with people about books, zooming around events asking attendees what they like to read and finding the perfect selections for them. Watching her passion for books and service grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

I think Jenavieve and Jane (see p. 6 of the latest Quarterly Issue for more on Jane) would enjoy meeting one another! How do you recruit volunteers to help deliver the books?

I don’t have to do much recruiting—most of the time, people reach out to me. They’ll hear about events we’ve held in places like Burnsville, Asheville, or Hendersonville and ask if we can bring books to their town too. Once I have a contact for the town, they help me secure a host location. When I officially announce the event—titled something like “Books for Burnsville” or “Books for Black Mountain”—people from that area often reach out, saying they want to volunteer.

In addition to local volunteers, we have a dedicated group of supporters who travel to help at multiple events. Both my parents have volunteered at every single event, which I deeply appreciate. We also have Amanda Cleary Eastep, (pictured with Kirsten) an author who joined us at our second event in Burnsville and has continued to be a tremendous supporter by volunteering at several others and has donated hundreds of copies of her middle grade fiction books. The mix of new and consistent volunteers has been such a blessing to this project and has helped us reach more communities.

How do you source your books?

We started the initiative by asking for donations of gently used books, and the response has been overwhelming. People from all over the country have supported us, including shipments sent via media mail from as far as California, Washington State, and even Idaho, where one woman donated over 2,000 books. The generosity has been incredible.

In addition to donated books, we created an Amazon wish list featuring classic titles, Bibles, and popular modern books like The Wingfeather Saga and The Green Ember series—many of which align with the kinds of books the original Pack Horse Librarians distributed. These are carefully chosen to bring hope, encouragement, and joy to families. Through Instagram, we’ve also connected with authors and publishers who have contributed over 2,000 brand-new books for children in Western North Carolina.

Initially, we worried that the success of the initiative would hinge on whether we could collect enough books to distribute, but the support has been abundant. No matter how many events we hold, we always seem to have a house full of books. At every event, people bring more gently used books to donate, which allows us to continue rotating and distributing them. It feels like we’ve created a giant mobile lending library for Western North Carolina. Books donated in one town may travel to another, connecting communities in a unique way. It’s been amazing to see how this project has grown and sustained itself through the generosity and support of so many people.

That is amazing! I know our friend Amanda Cleary Eastep has joined you in delivering books, and many of hers are now in the hands of eager young readers. What is your vision for this ministry as it grows/continues?

When people ask me about the future vision for the 21st Century Packhorse Librarian, I have to say that this has been God’s project from the very beginning. He placed it on my heart, and I’ve been taking it one step at a time, trusting His direction. I honestly don’t have a long-term plan because everything we do is Spirit-led. I’m just along for the ride, responding to where God leads us next.

Initially, I never envisioned this becoming a nonprofit, but after many people suggested it, I finally told God, “If this is what You want, You’ll need to bring someone into my life to help.” And He did. Two ladies, who share a deep love of books, approached me with the knowledge, wisdom, and resources to begin the nonprofit process.

We’ve seen God provide for this project in miraculous ways. For instance, at our second event, we realized that tote bags were a necessity for attendees. Since then, every time we start to run low, someone donates hundreds of bags—without us even expressing the need. Similarly, He continually refills our supply of books, ensuring we’re able to keep going no matter how many events we host.

Ultimately, our mission is about more than distributing books. It’s about reminding the people of Western North Carolina that they’re not alone, they haven’t been forgotten, and that they are loved—by God and by us. We are grateful and humbled to be part of what He is doing through this project.

Thank you, Kirsten, for sharing about this incredible adventure! It is a blessing to us to watch you love your neighbors in such a tangible way.

You can look up the “21st century packhorse librarian” on Facebook for lots of updates, photos, and more stories. Pictures on this page are copyright Amanda Cleary Eastep.