What is the role of the Book in a Human Library? The Human Library offers the opportunity to “borrow” a human for a brief, 20 minute one-on-one conversation. The book shares his/her/thier life experience with readers in an authentic way. The book needs to be comfortable speaking as a member of the targeted group that he/she/they represents in a mature and reflective manner. The book needs to focus on helping the readers to understand the subject more thoroughly without trying to persuade, convert, or condemn readers who hold different beliefs and values. The book needs to be open to respectful questions about his/her/their life experience which is relevant to understanding the topic. The book needs to be honest but also free to decline to discuss matters not relevant to the topic or too personal.
The book may need to prepare some factual information about the group he/she/they represents in order to answer questions or correct misconceptions that readers may have about the group. Books may also want to assess the reader’s curiosity at the beginning of the session by asking “Why did you choose my book?” The response may help the book to determine the reader’s familiarity and interest. Readers are not always able to frame their questions clearly so the book may need to help by asking the readers basic questions about their familiarity with the topic, such as: Have they met someone like you before? Have they had good or bad experiences with someone like you? The book should also be prepared to repeat his/her/their story since there may be multiple readers interested in borrowing the book during the timeframe of the Human Library.
What is the role of the reader in a Human Library? The reader is a person willing to face his/her/their own stereotypes by spending time with a human book. Readers may choose book topics that present life experiences different from their own and about which they may have formed opinions. Readers are willing to listen to the books, ask questions in a respectful manner, and deepen their own understanding of the life experiences of others. Readers understand that books may not want to share very personal aspects of their stories and do not persist with questions that the books decline to answer. Readers understand that they may not share the same values, ideas, and beliefs of the book, but they are willing to listen without condemning or trying to change the book.
Source: https://libguides.ecc.edu/c.php?g=395827&p=2691799
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