Heather Latter
The first-ever “Human Library” event hosted by the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre, in partnership with the local Celebrating Diversity Committee, has been deemed a success.
“It was successful,” Andrea Avis, the library’s program director, said of the event held there Monday from 6-8 p.m.
“Our ‘books’ were checked out to 23 different people,” she noted.
“The idea [was] to foster understanding and tolerance while celebrating a strong diverse community,” explained library CEO Alicia Subnaik Kilgour.
“And I think we nailed it,” said Avis, adding while it was a new event here, it’s quite popular at other libraries.
In a “Human Library,” people become the “books” and are “borrowed” for a conversation. They come from different backgrounds and ways of life, but for different reasons were subjected to stereotyping or prejudice.
The “books” and “readers” were able to meet for a “loan period” of up to 30 minutes in the library while they had the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and share experiences.
“We were hoping to have 10 ‘books’ and we had six, so we think that is a really good turnout for the first time,” Avis reasoned.
“We felt it was a really manageable group.
“And it was nice because our library is set up so nicely that we were able to give everyone their own little space,” she added.
The “books,” who all volunteered their time Monday evening, included local centenarian and author Frances Shelfantook, residential school survivor Dick Bird, retired NHL player Mike Allison, war bride Pam Oliver, First Nations’ educator Donna Chief, and Confederation College student Jones Samuel from Nigeria.
Avis said a brochure was prepared so the “readers” had an idea what the “book” was about and what the intention was before they checked it out.
“All the ‘books’ had people come and talk to them,” Avis noted.
“A couple were more popular than others but everybody had a nice representation for interest.
“It provided a new way for people to connect with each other,” she explained, adding the library received plenty of positive feedback from both the “readers” and the “books.”
“It was interesting to learn about local people’s experiences,” said one “reader.”
“By the end of the talk, I realized I was speaking to my friend’s grandfather.”
Another enjoyed a conversation with Bird about the residential schools—creating a deeper understanding of what it must have been like back then and how people remain affected by the experience.
“I really loved how passionate he was about sharing his past with people he had just met,” the “reader” remarked.
“I would love to see more of this kind of event,” enthused another.
“We did get some really good responses from the ‘books’ themselves,” added Avis.
“They were really unsure of what was going to happen and a little bit nervous,” she admitted.
“But they all were happy with the quality of attention they got from the people who came to visit them,” she said.
“They would have liked to have time themselves to visit the other ‘books.’”
Avis said they’re considering holding the “Human Library” event annually, perhaps in conjunction with Ontario Public Library Week.
“But we now know that we need to give ourselves a longer length of time [for the event],” she conceded, noting the two-hour event didn’t provide enough time.
“We would maybe have it on Saturday, where we could have it all day,” Avis mused. “It would give the public more opportunity to come in and check out the ‘books.’”
Meanwhile, organizers already have ideas on other “books” they’d like to invite for next year’s event.
“We had quite a list going into it but we just didn’t have quite enough time to get commitments from everybody,” Avis said.
She added they’d even like to include some child “books” that would be of interest to other kids—maybe someone who has experience bullying in schools or has suffered prejudice because of having a disability.
“So we would like to explore that for next year,” Avis noted.
If anyone has an interesting story or perspective they would be willing to share for a future “Human Library” event, they are invited to contact the library.
