For this module, I looked at the two articles on The Human Library. I thought the concept of “checking out” a person that specialized on a specific topic to “read” was so interesting, but it instantly made sense to me! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been researching for a novel I’m writing and thought, “I wish I could just find someone who knew about [x] subject and talk to them.” So, on a purely topical level, I saw how useful of a project something like this could be.
However, the new study on the human library illuminated just how impactful it is. Participants remembered vividly the conversations they had even weeks and months after the event. Interacting with a person and discussing various topics challenged participants to consider their personal biases. As Arne-Skidmore put it, participants realized that “inclusion goes further than acceptance or non-discrimination – it requires conscious action.” Not only did the event challenge biases, but it also prompted a strengthening of diversity and inclusion efforts. Some “readers” even decided to “become books” themselves as a result of participating in the event.
It is so cool to hear how something as simple as having a conversation can change peoples’ minds. Sometimes, it can feel like an insurmountable task to try to get someone else to alter their biases or deepen their empathy. It’s easy to tell someone they just need to read more or to pick the right books and then they’ll understand. But nothing is quite as real as hearing it from another human being. It’s hard not to be changed by the stories of others. When I think about the things that changed and challenged my own worldview throughout the years, it was definitely listening to people’s stories — whether that was through videos, at protests, from lectures, and so on. I really hope I get the chance to see something like this in a library I work at in the future!
Arne-Skidmore, E. (August 4 2021). New study on the impact of the human library. Human Library
Wentz, E. (April 26 2013). The human library: Sharing the community with itself. Public Libraries Online.