Human Library

Human “book” event

At Richmond Public Library’s Human Library® event April 12, people will be able to choose from about a dozen “books,” people who will share their personal stories. (photo from RPL)

Join the conversation at Richmond Public Library’s fourth annual Human Library® event. Taking place on April 12, from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be approximately a dozen “book” topics to check out.

The Human Library® is a nonprofit organization that began with its first event in Denmark in 2000. It has established itself as a global learning platform with an initiative to create safe spaces for dialogue between human “books” and their “readers.” The conversations between books and readers can help challenge prejudices and stereotypes, and can contribute more broadly to greater cohesion across social, ethnic and religious divisions.

During a Human Library® event, readers will see a variety of available book titles and be able to select one to “borrow” for a 20-minute reading slot. Readers and books will then have a one-on-one conversation, where books will introduce themselves and readers will have the opportunity to ask questions. At previous Human Library® events held at RPL, books have shared stories of their struggles with such things as mental illness, homelessness, and integrating to life in Canada as a newcomer.

This is a drop-in event, so no pre-registration is required. It is also free to attend. Participants will be invited to borrow books on a first-come, first-served basis until “last call” at 3:30 p.m. The event is appropriate for a teen, adult or senior audience. To find out more, go to yourlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events.

– Courtesy Richmond Public Library

Waldman’s 2024 Human Library

Participants in the Human Library event at the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library on April 7. (photo from Waldman Library)

photo - Jewish Independent publisher Cynthia Ramsay (inset, middle) was one of the “books” — Jewish Independent publisher Cynthia Ramsay (inset, middle) was one of the “books.” *(photo from Waldman Library)*

The Human Library event at the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library on April 7 drew a diversity of “human books” (volunteers who shared some of their life experiences) and readers (people who came out to learn about those experiences). Titles included Police Officer; Coping with Dementia: A Mother/Son Story; More than just MS; Brain Cancer Survivor; Your Jewish Community Newspaper; and Partners in Care. Books and readers gathered at the library, had snacks and shmoozed, before participating in three separate reading sessions over the course of the afternoon. The purpose of the event is to connect one-on-one or few-on-one with individuals from different cultural backgrounds and lifestyles, celebrating our differences and fostering understanding.

Call for human “books” – share your lived experience with community members

(image from dirtdaubber.wordpress.com)

Do you defy a stereotype? Have you faced prejudice or stigma in your life? Do you have unique life experience, or a story to tell? Apply now to be a human book for the Isaac Waldman Jewish Public Library’s Human Library event on Sunday, April 7, and share your lived experience with others.

The Human Library originates in Denmark and has spread across the globe. The program is based on the idea of “unjudging” others, and seeks to challenge our preconceived notions of people through conversation.

The local Sunday event will run from noon to 4 p.m. Community members will come in and ask to take out certain “books,” meaning they’ll have the opportunity to have a conversation with certain volunteers. To give an example, the library currently has three volunteer books and their titles are “Child Holocaust Survivor,” “Brain Cancer Survivor” and “Police Officer,” which indicates the facet of their lived experience/identity that they are willing to talk about. Each volunteer can expect to have four to seven sessions with “borrowers,” either one-on-one or in small groups. There will be a lot of breaks and snacks, and volunteer books are empowered to decline talking about anything that makes them uncomfortable. There will be a training session prior to the event to help everyone prepare.

A Human Library is a way for people to reach out and connect with individuals in their community with whom they might not normally engage. Human Libraries promote tolerance, celebrate differences and encourage understanding of people who come from varied cultural or lifestyle backgrounds.

Apply to be a human book at bit.ly/WaldmanHumanLibrary2024 within a few days of March 8. Email any questions to [email protected].

– Courtesy Waldman Library