Photo of Bookshelf in library with many books: © Depositphotos.com/PinkBadger
The Mississippi Mills Public Library kindly invited me to volunteer at a Human Book Project event they held last weekend. As far as events go, this one was a first for me.
If you’re not too familiar with the Human Book concept, here’s a condensed version:
– The Human Book is a volunteer who has agreed to speak about their life experiences and challenges. An individual accepts to take part in the event as a Book and is “borrowed” for conversation. The Book might represent a company, local authority, or a particular career or lifestyle.
– Book reservations for specific time slots are available at the library before the event. A Reader can “check out” a Book for thirty minutes maximum, during which the Book and the Reader have a one-on-one conversation.
– Readers can register for only one Human Book at a time. First come, first served.
– The library event is designed for an adult audience.
Launched in Denmark in 2000, Human Book events have been held in more than thirty countries around the world. The events offer readers opportunities to interact with real people who are willing to share their specific perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.
On the matter of Reader etiquette, there are guidelines to follow:
– The Reader must be respectful in conversation with the Book.
– The Reader accepts that the Book can quit the conversation if he or she feels that the Reader treats him or her in an inappropriate or disrespectful manner.
– The loan period is for the established time maximum.
– The Reader must not record (audio or written), videotape, or take pictures of the Book.
– The Reader is not allowed to ask the Book for personal contact information.
– The Reader must not seek professional counsel during the conversation.
Since I enjoy one-on-one meetings, I looked forward to participating in the occasion and rightly so. I had a pleasant session with a mature library patron who was interested in writing her memoirs. We exchanged views on the writing world, the ins-and-outs of the publishing business, and other technicalities that fill up an author’s day. Before we knew it, the slotted time was up. I thanked my guest for coming and wished her success with her new venture.
The Human Book event might take on different variations in other libraries. Some libraries ask their Books to narrate a personal story to Readers. Other Books act as teachers or guides and share information about a specialized subject, for example, gardening. The goal is to reinforce the library’s value to the community through the sharing of knowledge and experiences.
Kudos to libraries for expanding their reach through such innovative events!