The Human Library: A New Chapter of Diversity
Alicia Fraser // March 30, 2012
What do humans and libraries have in common? Both are very diverse sources of information. What happens when you combine the two?
You get a library full of human books.
On Wednesday, March 21, the Mount held its first Human Library event coordinated by Sociology professor Dr. Alan Brown and students from his Introduction to Sociology class.
I was a bit skeptical of ‘using’ humans for seemingly unorthodox purposes after hearing of the ‘homeless hotspots’ in Texas for the SXSW festival. However (like always) my curiosity got the better of me – so I checked it out. I was pleasantly surprised.
When I think of libraries, it’s nerdy, I admit, but I get excited. There’s such a vast amount of information just waiting for me every time. And, to my surprise, the ‘Human Library’ was just as exciting and informative, if not more so than a regular library.
The event itself was created to produce conversations about diversity. This makes sense because it is undeniable that we live in a diverse world.
The ‘Human Library’ really showcased the true beauty of diversity. There were authors, drag queens, addicts, psychics, and many other human books available for students and staff to borrow.
Other students seemed to have similar impressions.
Emilly MacMackin, a first year public relations student here at the Mount, says the event challenged those who participated in a positive way:
“The human library provided Mount students with a real life resource to familiarize themselves with any prejudices they may have.”
The ‘Human Library’ achieved a tangible kind of diversity not always found in books.
There is no competition between a fiction writer and someone who has actually lived the story. Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid fiction reader, but no amount of research can compete with a memory. Memories are vivid and real. Books can tug at your heart strings, but there is nothing like witnessing the raw emotion in a first-hand, in-person account of an addict’s struggles or a homosexual’s coming out.
The Human Library was an eye-opening experience and, if you’re anything like me, you’re excited for the next one. I look forward to the new stories I will discover.
