Human for hire at Preston College

Sitting across the table from the Breast Cancer book, she told me personal stories of the turmoil she and her partner went through as she battled cancer. Looking around the buzzing library, I could see every table was filled with other readers, all deep in conversation with their books. Student Annie Jakeman reports from the Human Library event at Preston College in the United Kingdom.

No, this was not some kind of missing scene from The Pagemaster. Preston College’s William Tuson Library became the first education establishment in the UK to experience the innovative Human Library event. The lucky Health and Social care students were given the chance to “take out” a human book, their topics being Diseases and Conditions. The books subjects ranged widely, from Transgender to being an Alzheimer’s support worker.

Began in Denmark

The ideas for Living Libraries began in Denmark as the brainchild of Ronni Abergel and his colleagues at the Danish Stop The Violence organization. The idea is designed to reduce prejudices and encourage integration in society and has since become a global movement in more than 40 countries spearheaded by the Human Library organization. The Human Library, has been proved to be successful in Australia, America, and many areas of Europe, though Living Libraries is a new concept in the UK.

Nervous student readers

Preston College’s Human Library organiser Zerry Harrison hoped the Health and Social Care students would develop a greater understanding of the book’s diseases and conditions. Zerry felt it was important for the students to “improve their communication, by questioning and listening to the books, and developing a more mature attitude.”
Observing the reading students, you could see a range of reactions as they delved in to the personal lives of the Living books. Sitting down at each table, the students were clearly nervous and uncomfortable, but after reading, the books and building their confidence, they left relaxed, welcomed, and full of positive understanding.
“The Arthritis book was my favorite,” said Health and Social Care student Kirstie Storey, after reading five different books with fellow student Kerry Fitzgerald, “it was really open and polite when we asked about the condition, and was really informative too.” However, Kirstie’s coursework wasn’t the only thing to benefit from the event. “The amputee changed my social views too. I understand so much more about the condition, and I’ve learnt not to stare, too.”

Transgender book impressed with event

Sitting down with Transgender book, Leanne, she told me about her time as a book, expressing how impressed she was with the event. The event was perfect for Leanne, as she strongly values communication as a vital education tool.
“It was interesting to hear and answer new questions that are not usually asked, and to also understand all the Transgender fears of the readers,” Leanne said, explaining how she intended to aid the students. “After carrying my secret around for so long in my past, I’ve become an open book now, so I wasn’t afraid to answer any questions they had at all.”
Using education, Leanne set out to not change the discriminative views of the students, but to persuade them to re-evaluate their views by widening their knowledge. “I was more than happy to talk to the students, but, because I’m so open about it, I had to ask how frank and straightforward I could be. How appropriate did my answers have to be?”
A student and I sat and read Leanne as a book.  Answering my question with a question, she asked “what would you do if you were you on the inside, but you spent your adolescence being called Thomas, and being told that you had to like football and other boys things, and that you could only wear boys clothes, and you couldn’t wear make up?”
We sat in silence for a few moments, before the student responded with “you’ve just totally blown my mind”.
With the next event in University of Guelph, Ontario in March, I urge every college to take part, or for you to visit your next and nearest Human Library event. Educate yourself and your perception of different members of society, and completely open your way of thinking.

By Annie Jakeman,  Preston College, May 2009.