Human Library Returns to Highland Lakes November 4

Flyer for the event

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be deaf? What it is like to be gay or transgender in our society? What it is like living with an addiction? On Wednesday November 4 from 1–7pm, the Highland Lakes Campus Diversity Committee and OCC Libraries will host our ninth Human Library. A Human Library is a collection of individuals who have been stereotyped and are available for “check out,” creating a cross section of “books” that represent the diversity of our population. “Books” are not asked to be experts, but instead asked to be themselves and tell their story in response to questions asked by the “Reader.” This exercise allows “books” and “readers” to interact with people from all walks of life and hopefully break down barriers that are cornerstones of prejudice.

The Human Library was started in 2000 in Denmark to help break down barriers and end prejudice. The idea was simple: if you meet people from other walks of life, people different than yourself, they become real and no longer belong to a faceless group. Once people start talking and get to know one another, it becomes harder to discriminate against others as we realize we are more similar than we are different. For more information, please go to www.humanlibrary.org.

On Wednesday November 4, at the OCC Highland Lakes Campus Student Center from 1pm-7pm, our Human Library will have 12 Human Book titles. Please come and check them out.

Submitted by Allison McFadden-Keesling

Faculty Librarian
Highland Lakes Campus Library