WHAT IS THE HUMAN LIBRARY?

The Human Library is an equalities tool that seeks to challenge prejudice and discrimination. It works just like a normal library: visitors can browse the catalogue for the available titles, choose the Book they want to read, and borrow it for a limited period of time.After reading, they return the Book to the library and, if they want, they can borrow another.

The only difference is that in the Human Library, Books are people, and reading consists of a conversation.

The Human Library attempts to challenge prejudice by facilitating a conversation between two people: Books and Readers. Books are volunteers who have either been subjected to discrimination themselves or represent groups or individuals within society that are at risk of suffering from stereotype, stigma, prejudice or discrimination. Human Books often have personal experiences of discrimination or social exclusion that they are willing to share with Readers. Most importantly, Books give Readers permission to enter into dialogue with them, in the hope that their perspectives and experiences will challenge commonly held perceptions and stereotypes and therefore affect the attitudes and behaviours of wider society.

Those of us who attempt to initiate programmes that promote intercultural dialogue are frequently faced with the challenge to come up with something innovative.We are constantly looking for something that can attract the attention of many and make a real difference to those involved. The Human Library is an innovative approach to equality and diversity because it addresses the broad subject of prejudice without emphasizing one specific case over others. At the same time, it manages to successfully navigate around some of the sensitivities that accompany anti-prejudice work, while maintaining an element of fun and interaction that makes the project immensely appealing to both potential organisers and participants. This is achieved by creating a safe environment for Readers and Books to engage in open dialogue whose explicit aim is to discuss topics that in almost any other setting would be considered too delicate. At the Human Library these discussions are possible, indeed, they are surprisingly easy. Becoming one half of that exchange is a rare privilege and one that leaves no one who experiences it unaffected.

The simplicity of the Human Library means that it is flexible enough to be used in a wide variety of settings and it is particularly suitable for use in public spaces and buildings, festivals and large gatherings. Wherever it is employed, as long as the decision to organise an event is motivated by the desire to challenge prejudice, the Human Library has the potential to change the feelings, perceptions and opinions we all hold about each other. The diversity of our communities is celebrated, the language and labels of stereotype are undermined and challenged, and new attitudes and behaviours are shaped by new and personal experiences. Above all, the Human Library has the potential to affect the way we all see the world, each other, and the future that we share.

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 593