Digital Collaboration and the 21st C.

United by a passion for books and reading, volunteers across the nation have made it possible for the African Library Project to deliver its one millionth book this month.

Founded by a Portola Valley woman in 2005, the nonprofit group was created to increase literacy in a country whose population has the highest percentage of illiteracy in the world.

It was during a family vacation in Lesotho, a small mountainous region in southern Africa, that founder Chris Bradshaw realized establishing libraries could have a profound effect on increasing literacy. She began working closely with local teachers and community leaders, and it expanded from there.

Reaching the one millionth book "is a real statement about the people in this country and just what a generous spirit they have in wanting to help do good in the world and recognizing the importance of literacy for any civilization to progress," Bradshaw said.

The tiny libraries perched in front of houses throughout the Twin Cities are taking a 6,000-mile journey to Africa this year.

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The popular "Little Free Libraries,'' which look like oversized mailboxes, have paired up with the nonprofit Books for Africa. The colorful wooden libraries, shaped like schools or cottages, are expected to be open for business in Ghana in the months ahead.

"We've wanted to expand to Africa, and we saw Books for Africa as the perfect partner,'' said Todd Bol, co-founder of Little Free Libraries, launched in Hudson, Wis., in 2009.