Human Library - Take out a prejudice

Living Libraries confirmed in Los Angeles and Seattle for October.

Readers looking for a Living Book in the United States can start looking for their library card because the first Living Libraries have now been confirmed. In the next twenty four months the Human Library will spread out across America starting with Los Angeles and Seattle.

SMPL logoSanta Monica Public Library up first.

The first official Human Library event will take place at Santa Monica Public Library in Los Angeles on October 18th, serving the public from 12-4pm. On the bookshelf readers can expect to find thought provoking titles such as the ex-gang member, the quaker (a first edition), the buddist, a gay parent, celebrity publicist, ex-homeless and raw foodist (a first edition). Greg Mullen, City Librarian, says of the Human Library event  “Santa Monica Public Library is proud to host this innovative and unique event that will allow the community to come together to learn more about each other".

The event is free and open to the public. Patrons do not need to have a Santa Monica Public Library card but they will be expected to sign the books out. Organisers are not able to accept bookings in advance but we will accept holds on the day of the event.

Kitsap Regional LibraryBainbridge Island Library next.

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird.

In the spirit of Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Bainbridge Library is offering a unique opportunity for Bainbridge Islanders to explore common stereotypes in a structured environment at the first-ever Bainbridge Island Human Library on Saturday, October 25, from 9 a.m. – noon. At a Human Library, community members are invited to "check out" a conversation with a person who may seem, at least from the outside, very different from themselves. The event is presented in conjunction with the Kitsap Regional Library’s One Community, One Book: To Kill a Mockingbird, which is taking place throughout October. Among the titles expected to be available to readers are the hunter, the military officer and the vegan.The event is organised by the Library in partnership with the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council, the City of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Historical Society. As always the services of the Human Library are free to the public.

First of many events in the US.

The Human Library Organisation is proud to work and be associated with the staff and volunteers from Santa Monica Public Library and the Bainbridge Island Library. They have shown a great commitment to preparing their challenges to visitors and hopefully their succes will be a further proof of this methodologies global application potential. The two Libraries will be the first of many new US based organisers to host a Human Library and in the coming month more dates will be confirmed. Its expected to take up to three years before Living Libraries will be available nationwide on a more frequent basis. 

 

Details of the first two events.

October 18th, 2008.

Location: Santa Monica Public Library

Open from 12-4pm. Check out is located on the first floor and loans are available for a duration of 30 minutes. 

Adress:

Main Library,

601 Santa Monica Blvd.,

Santa Monica, CA. 

Contact: Rachel Foyt

October 25th, 2008

Location: Bainbridge Island Library

Open from 9am till noon.

Adress:

1270 Madison Avenue N.

Bainbridge Island, WA

Contact: Susan Rosapepe public relations director, Kitsap Regional Library.