The Human Library is very much like a regular library where people go to check out books. The only difference is that the books are all human volunteers who have opted to speak about their experiences openly to an interested audience and answer any questions they are asked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each volunteer is a book on a particular topic. Interested readers can check out a human book for an allotted length of time at a designated place (the time and place will be stipulated by the organizers) and have frank discussions about the topic. Thirty minutes of borrowing time is the norm. The space selected should be comfortable and provide enough privacy for open and honest discussions. Readers can ask questions which the human books will answer as best they can. When the reader is done with the book, they can return the book and check out another that is available.

 

The Human Library® creates a safe space for dialogue where topics are discussed openly between our human books and their readers.

The Human Library® is a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.

All of our human books are volunteers with personal experience with their topic.

The Human Library® is a not for profit learning platform, that has hosted personal conversations designed to challenge stigma and stereotypes since 2000.