Check out a book at the Human Library

Posted on November 13, 2018 Written by

A photograph advertising the Human Library--pictures of people on a book shelf.

This Thursday, Nov. 15th, check out more than a book from the library—check out a human book.  From 6:30 until 9:00, the Library will host its 3rd annual Human Library in RPL 300B.  This event is free and open to the public—all are welcome.

The Human Library project is a national program promoting dialogue and understanding between people.  Each ‘book’ his a person sharing their experiences with prejudice, discrimination, or hardships beyond their control in an environment that allows for candid conversations within a smaller group. The purpose is to promote understanding within a diverse community.

“Readers,” the people coming to the event, will browse the shelves and choose a book to sit down with. The book will tell their story allowing for the reader to ask questions.

This year the library will feature 10 books for readers to choose from.  Titles include:

  • Naturalization: Becoming a Citizen of the United States.
  • Librarian in Blue: Chicago police officer becomes a librarian
  • My Past is Part of Me But Not All of Me: A non-traditional student overcomes abusive childhood in a strict religious home.
  • 30 and Still Nerdy: He speaks fluent nerd and owns a 13 volume encyclopedia of Middle Earth—capable of adulting yet hasn’t grown out of these nerdy things.
  • International Student: A student from the Middle East shares his experiences studying in Arkansas.
  • Sick Chase: A story of the survival of a religious crisis.
  • Not Your Average “Duke”: The story of a small-town moonshiner’s grandson and how he broke free from the social norm surrounding him.
  • Graditutde & Gears: A first generation Latina engineering major shares her experiences cultivating a postive network in college.
  • Invisible: A seemingly happy-go-lucky college student struggles with anxiety and depression complicated by the feelings of shame associated with the stigma of mental illness.
  • Unexpected: A first generation college student and her unexpected journey into parenthood.

For more information on the Human Library, including a list of past speakers, other Human Libraries, and videos, visit our website about the project: http://libguides.atu.edu/humanlibrary/home.  If you are interested in becoming a book yourself for next year, consider signing up.  No dust jacket required.

Stay in touch with all our books and programs by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.  We hope you will come Thursday night and check out some books!

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Read or Be Read

Posted on September 19, 2016 Written by

The Ross Pendergraft Library is now accepting volunteers to be a book for the 2016 Human Library on November 1st & 2nd.  Volunteers will be a living, breathing ‘book’, telling their personal stories about facing prejudice, discrimination, disability, and other hardships beyond their control to interested readers in a one-on-one setting.  The Human Library is an international movement that allows readers to ‘check-out’ a human book for a 30 minute conversation.  The readers listen to the personal stories and have time to ask questions.

The program is designed to promote understanding and compassion within a diverse community and to help break down barriers to communication.  As a book, you will have an opportunity to tell someone about the ways in which you have been stereotyped or misunderstood based on your race, sexual orientation, religion, profession, country of origin, gender, veteran status, or more.  Some of the books we have signed up so far include Environmental Activist, Homeschool Mom, and Drug Addict.

The goal is to have meaningful conversations about difficult subjects in a safe, one-on-one setting.  If you are interested in signing up to be a book, use our volunteer form: http://libguides.atu.edu/humanlibrary/bookform

For more questions about the program, contact Sherry Tinerella at stinerella@atu.edu or call 479-964-0571.    More information, including program details and instructions for coordinating classroom visits, will be available as the event date draws near.

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