CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES

The Human Library™ is designed to create opportunities and safe spaces where readers can check out human Books for conversation, challenging the stereotypes and prejudices to which we are all inclined. It is a place where real people who have lived experiences in areas of prejudice, stigma, discrimination, or stereotyping are on loan to readers; a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.

ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN LIBRARY

The Human Library, or “Menneskebiblioteket” as it is called in Danish, was developed in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000 by brothers Ronni and Dani Abergel and their colleagues, Asma Mouna and Christoffer Erichsen. They believed that their community’s struggles with violence and discrimination were partially the result of “us and them” mentality.

And so they set out to bring ‘us’ and ‘them’ together to have open dialogue with one another, learning perspectives they otherwise would never know. The original event was open eight hours a day for four days straight, and featured over fifty different human book titles.

The broad selection of books provided readers with ample choice to challenge their own stereotypes. More than a thousand readers took advantage, leaving books, librarians, organizers and readers stunned at its impact. Word has spread to more than 80 countries since that initial undertaking. Human Library has now become a worldwide movement for social change, with hundreds of in-person and online events taking place annually on five continents. www.humanlibrary.org

FORT WAYNE

Human Library Fort Wayne believes that the same concept of the founding Library™ can be applied to our community. That is, the prejudices and stereotypes present in our community can be interrupted and dismantled by creating positive environments and safe spaces for compassionate and open conversation. We have brought together a library of people from diverse walks of life, ages, races, and cultures who have faced challenge, stigma and/or discrimination as part of their lived experience. These are real people who are eager to be ‘on loan’ to readers in their own community for dialogue that challenges, moves and opens them to broadened perspectives and greater understanding.

Since our first event took place at the Allen County Main Library in August of 2018, we have continued to grow. Moving to online events during the pandemic greatly expanded our reach to readers from across the country and around the world. Our hope is that Human Library Fort Wayne, both through in-person and online events, continues to grow in the years to come, cultivating a community of people who are ever more aware, understanding, and, ultimately, more accepting and affirming of our differences.