Human Library at London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

The London Public Library has undertaken an initiative to improve services to the socially vulnerable in their community. The local organizers felt the Human Library methodology offered a unique opportunity for staff to develop empathy for their patrons’ situations. That empathy would improve service and improve relationships between staff and patrons. This methodology also serves as a vehicle to support programming related to the Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in London.

The initiative operates with both a staff component and a public event. The objective is to support the London Public Library’s strategic initiative to improve services to the socially vulnerable by encouraging empathy with the people we serve (the staff component) and to raise awareness of the diversity of London’s community and give people in the community a chance to have conversations they might not otherwise (the public component).

So a series of events will take place starting on March 2nd through to the 6th, for staff and Library volunteers, followed by a Human Library open to the public on March 20th, 2010. The events will take place at three different locations under the London Public Library.

Event details:

Date: Saturday, March 20th, 2010.

Open: 11 am - 4 pm

Duration of loans: TBA

Location: London Public Library´s Central Library

Address:  251 Dundas St., London, Ontario ON N6A 6H9, Canada

Organizers: London Public Library

Contact person: Beth Kinchlea, Manager

Weblink: http://www.londonpubliclibrary.ca/