Book Aid International was founded in 1954 by Hermione, Countess of Ranfurly, after she moved to the Bahamas with her husband, Ulster-Scots Daniel Knox, 6th Earl of Ranfurly, who was Governor of the Bahamas.
Over the years, she expanded her work throughout the Commonwealth of Nations and set up an organisation called The Ranfurly Library Service in London.
[3] Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was the charity's patron from 1966 until his death in April 2021.
Many of these countries are in Africa but they also send books to support readers in Syria, Iraq and Greece.
[12] The charity's website also details a number of programmes designed to train librarians and teachers as well as to create and support school libraries.