I can’t believe I had never heard of the Human Library before this module; but, I absolutely love the idea and all the courageous people who participate in these events as both ‘books’ and ‘readers.’ Everybody has a personal story to tell, whether big or small or long or short; and there are many who simply want to listen and expand their perspective. It truly is a win-win situation for everyone. Libraries worldwide, particularly those in cities serving larger communities, should organize events like these for their patrons to actively engage in meaningful conversations aiming to challenge general assumptions, stereotypes, and biases that reduce others’ entire lived experiences to a few mere prejudices (Ray, 2019).
Sourced from PwC (n.d.).
Sourced from Human Library (2022).
There are many ways people can communicate and share their stories on the internet, such as through social media – notably reddit – but nothing beats the real-life version. Even if we were to assume everybody has pure intentions, some are better at lying or exaggerating their stories for attention and sympathy. But, the chance of that is significantly reduced during face-to-face settings, where anonymity is replaced with personal accountability.
Sourced from In The Loop | Columbia College Chicago (2018).
The Human Library’s long-term efficacy is more than apparent with the many participants’ surprising ability to vividly recall details of the event, in addition to recurring thoughts following months after the event. They were also able to increase their sensitivity to others by realizing that “inclusion goes further than acceptance or non-discrimination – it requires conscious action” (Arne-Skidmore, 2021). That is the precise sentiment our nation needs in order to heal the division tearing us apart.
Sourced from Unsplash (2022).
While this isn’t directly tied to the library profession, it still relates to information science. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out my favorite YouTuber, Peter Santenello, whose content has brought me closer to the raw and personal stories and perspectives of total strangers in a way that no news outlet ever has.
References
Arne-Skidmore, E. (2021, August 4). New study on the impact of the Human Library. Human Library. https://humanlibrary.org/new-study-on-the-impact-of-the-human-library/
Ray, M. (2019, April 12). Courageous conversations at the Human Library. Next Avenue. https://www.nextavenue.org/courageous-conversations-human-library/
Hi Kiana,
Great post, thanks for sharing! I really like your point regarding how face-to-face settings are instrumental to strengthening connections between people. Sometimes I wonder when I see hate comments online…would these people say the same in real life? Personal accountability is key, as you said.
Kiana – I am so glad the human library concept resonated with you. Also, I have followed Peter the YouTuber for a long time and some of his videos were so moving and challenging to watch an interesting. I kind of fell out of watching him recently and I need to get back to. It might be really helpful for my frame of mind.