The Syracuse University Libraries will host its third annual Human Library event on Wednesday, April 6, from noon-4 p.m. in Bird Library, in partnership with the Disability Cultural Center, the LGBT Resource Center, the Library and Information Science Student Association at the School of Information Studies, the Office of Learning Communities, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Slutzker Center for International Services.
A borrower interviews a “human book” during last year’s Human Library.
During this event, human books from the SU community representing a wide range of cultural backgrounds, areas of expertise and life experiences will share their stories in conversation with individual “readers.” The event is intended to promote understanding, encourage diversity and challenge stereotypes and prejudices.
Human books—SU faculty, staff and students from a variety of campus departments—will engage in one-on-one or small group conversations for 20 minutes at a time. Available human books include a student from Kazakhstan, a faculty member from China, a Haudenosaunee Promise Scholar, a biracial trans individual and a student veteran. Other books will discuss topics such as managing mental illness, embracing the unpredictability of life and the effect of technology on the millennial generation. This year’s event will also include interactive books, giving participants a chance to learn and practice new skills such as yoga, meditation and knitting, as well as a human CD who will play jazz guitar.
The event is open to the campus community and no preregistration is required, although participants can reserve a book in advance for a specific time, if desired, by completing the form on this page: http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/humanlibrary/reserve.
Supported by the Central NY Library Resources Council, SU’s Human Library event is part of a regional Human Library program taking place during April, the month in which National Library Week is celebrated. The first Human Library program was held in 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark (see http://www.humanlibrary.org). Since then, similar events have been organized in libraries, schools and other institutions around the world.
For more information, see http://researchguides.library.syr.edu/humanlibrary.
