Written by Jennifer Korn, Branch Manager, Pleasant Ridge Branch Library
Do you have a great story to tell based on your life experience? The Library and our partner Community Happens Here, opens a new window are looking for volunteers to be “published” as human books at an exciting, first-ever event in our area. Share your story in order to help shatter stigmas, prejudgment, and stereotypes at our Human Library event on Saturday, November 12 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pleasant Ridge.
What is the Human Library?
The Human Library, opens a new window event will encourage visitors to “un-judge” others through open, earnest conversations. At Human Library events, community members can borrow a human “book” for 30 minutes. After that time, the book is returned and gets a chance to rest while borrowers can borrow other books.
Who Can Participate as a Book?
“There are great books inside most of us,” says Ronni Abergel, Human Library co-founder.
The best books are people who have been judged by others for some aspect of their personality or life. Examples of human books include a community member who is sharing their experience of being an immigrant, a Person of Color, on an unusual career path, overcoming a major hardship, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, a member of the military, a religious convert, a member of a minority religion, and many more stories that reflect our community’s diversity.
Volunteer to Serve as a Human Book!
A human book must champion the Human Library’s mission to help participants un-judge someone during the event on November 12. You will engage in open and earnest conversation with one or two borrowers and will answer tough questions but also be comfortable setting boundaries during the conversation.
Human books must attend a training session in late September to learn from other Human Books from around the world and practice for the event.
Books must also be available for at least two hours during the event 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 12.
If you’re interested in volunteering as a book for this amazing event, contact the Pleasant Ridge Branch Library, opens a new window at pls@chpl.org or call Community Happens Here at 513-666-1209.
What kinds of human books will you be most interested in reading? Let us know in the comments below!
Add a comment to: Is There a Great Book Inside of You? Join the Area’s First-Ever Human Library!