Tag: human library

Human Library Reading Garden (Denmark)

Applied ICD

Human Library Reading Garden in Copenhagen, Human Library Organization, Copenhagen, Denmark. Grand opening: 28 April 2024; then every Sunday until 13 October 2024.

Concept: “The Human Library® creates a safe space for dialogue where topics are discussed openly between our human books and their readers. All of our human books are volunteers with personal experience with their topic. The Human Library® is a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.”

Details: “Very similar to your public library only we have real people on loan as an open book for you. Offering insights and honest conversations about their life and experience. If you arrive at the Human Library Reading Garden in the opening hours (Sundays 12-4pm) you will see a black librarian’s desk and a board with a list of topics available to readers. If the topic is listed in English, then it is available to readers in English. Consult the librarian to get an introduction and register for your library card. At this time you also agree to respect and observe our “Rules for Readers.” Now you can make your choice from what is available. The librarian is there to help guide you and once you have made your choice. The librarian will bring out the book for you and make introductions.

If you are in a group, then we recommend that you share a book. A maximum of five readers can take part in a group reading. During the season we are open on Sundays for the public. While our weekdays are reserved for visits from educational institutions and other publishing partners. Most of our topics are available in both Danish and English. A few are also available in Arabic, French, German, Italian and Spanish. You may borrow as many books as you like, but only one at a time.”

This is one human library of many; for more information about the entire movement, see here. Over the last 24 years, the Human Library has hosted events virtually and in libraries, museums, festivals, conferences, schools, universities and for the private sector, in over 85 countries.

Human Library @ Global Centre for Pluralism (Canada)

EventsIn order to mark World Refugee Day, the Global Centre for Pluralism (Ottawa, Canada) is hosting a Human Library on June 20, 2018.

Speakers will share their personal stories from all dimensions of the refugee experience in Canada, including private sponsorship, policymaking and settlement. Each human “book” will speak to the participants at their respective tables for approximately 10 minutes each. Guests will have the chance to hear from several different human “books” over the course of the evening. The event will include the launch of Refugee 613’s social media campaign #ShowYourWelcome and a gallery of portraits from the storytelling project Community. Everyone is welcome. This event is free of charge.

Here’s the basic description of Human Libraries from the organization’s website: “The Human Library™ is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.” To find a Human Library near you, check the organization’s Facebook page.

Human Library

An interesting approach to applied intercultural dialogue is a program called the Human Library. Here’s the basic description from the organization’s website:

“The Human Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding.The main characteristics of the project are to be found in its simplicity and positive approach. In its initial form the Human Library is a mobile library set up as a space for dialogue and interaction. Visitors to a Human Library are given the opportunity to speak informally with “people on loan”; this latter group being extremely varied in age, sex and cultural background. The Human Library enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging the most common prejudices in a positive and humorous manner. It is a concrete, easily transferable and affordable way of promoting tolerance and understanding. It is a “keep it simple”, “no-nonsense” contribution to social cohesion in multicultural societies.”

Some basics of the group’s history (the complete story can be found here):

It started in Denmark in 2000, developed by an NGO, Stop the Violence, based in Copenhagen. Supported by the Council of Europe, and public libraries around the world, the Human Library has spread rapidly. Australia is the first country to establish a permanent Human Library; and an Australian prepared an academic study of the project. In 2013 Canada became the first country to create a National Human Library Day. Programs around the world have received a variety of awards.

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