The Human Library Organization

Don’t Judge a Book By its Cover

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WE PUBLISH PEOPLE
AS OPEN BOOKS

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WE CREATE
A SAFE SPACE
FOR DIALOGUE

A PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS
ABOUT DIFFICULT ISSUES

AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CHALLENGE THE STEREOTYPES

A CHANCE TO
UNJUDGE SOMEONE

WE ARE
THE HUMAN LIBRARY

Welcome to the Human Library

23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

The Human Library® is a not for profit learning platform, that has hosted personal conversations designed to challenge stigma and stereotypes since 2000.

THE CONCEPT

The Human Library® creates a safe space for dialogue where topics are discussed openly between our human books and their readers.

OUR BOOKS

All of our human books are volunteers with personal experience with their topic.
The Human Library® is a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.

WHERE ARE WE TODAY

The Human Library® host events virtually and in libraries, museums, festivals, conferences, schools, universities and for the private sector. We have published our books in over 85 countries.

About the Human Library

The Human Library® is, in the true sense of the word, a library of people. We host events where readers can borrow human beings serving as open books and have conversations they would not normally have access to. Every human book from our bookshelf, represent a group in our society that is often subjected to prejudice, stigmatization or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, disability, social status, ethnic origin etc.

MORE ABOUT US

A worldwide movement for social change

The Human Library®’s mission is to provide support for Human Library® programs and book depot services around the world, to raise funds that will enable us to build more book collections, host more events and reach even more readers. One conversation at a time.

Become a community friend

Want to help create a safe space for dialogue? Then start hosting and presenting the Human Library in your community. More conversations are needed.

Looking to be Published?

We always need more books and have a network of local organizers and book depots around the world. Sign-up here to learn more about being published in the Human Library.

Become a Corporate Friend

Looking for a strong D&I tool or a meaningful CSR project for your company? Read about the different opportunities for responsible companies to become part of the Human Library and learn about our approach to working with D&I in the workplace.

Reader Reviews

THE CONCEPT

The Human Library is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered. The Human Library is a danish idea from 2000 and is now available in more than 80 countries.

Don’t Judge

a book by its cover

MEET OUR BOOKS HERE

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NEWS & BOOK OF THE MONTH

Feb102023

Books of the Month: Deaf and Depression

Book of the Month, NewsBy Andrea Trudslev

Andy and Bernadette have been married for more than 23 years. They are one of a very few couples that are also Books on our bookshelf.

Dec222022

A Year with Global Reach for the Human Library

NewsBy Andrea Trudslev

As 2022 is coming to a close, we look back at a year of hosting Human Libraries all around the world. Thank you to our books and readers.

Dec222022

Over 400 New Books Join the Human Library

NewsBy Andrea Trudslev

More Books than ever has joined the Bookshelf in 2022. In total, 437 Books from 24 countries have been trained, edited and published.