Human Books tell their stories
Hamilton City Libraries are following a world-wide trend in putting Human Books up for “loan” this weekend.
An initiative called the Human Library by the Garden Place library team to challenge cultural stereotypes is on this Saturday in Hamilton.
The concept has volunteers acting as human “books” by making themselves available for one-on -one conversations with members of the public.
Volunteer Jovi Abellanosa wants to share her personal stories.
“I am a Filipino. Yes I am Asian, yes I can speak English, and no, I am not a nurse,” is the title of Jovi’s personal story.
Jovi is the ethnic development advisor at Hamilton City Council and works to provide a valuable connection between the ethnic groups in Hamilton and the council.
Jovi says she “believes discrimination does exist in New Zealand” and encourages people to come and listen to the human books, including why she came to New Zealand.
Garden Place library service development manager Tracy Robinson says “a human library is where a person can listen to stories from people they wouldn’t chat to outside the library”.
Members of the public are also allowed to ask questions but have to remain respectful to the human books at all times.
All of the human books have had some training to overcome any situations that come up and to make sure that their personal story will be correctly told.
If you would like to go and listen to a human book such as Joui, you can register at Garden Place library for an appointment.
Readers get 20 minutes with the Human Book of their choice. There are nine such books to choose from.
The Human Library is open from 10am-2pm Saturday March 22 and more information can be found online.
The Human Library movement began in Denmark early this century, and since then events have been held in more than 26 countries.
