One best book is equal to a hundred good friends but one good friend is equal to a library — Abdul Kalam
A library is not just a building. It can be viewed as a mini computer which can store knowledge.The concept of human library can be viewed as another development opportunity in the library field. The purpose of the writer is to make readers aware of this new library concept.
The concept
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam once said, “One best book is equal to a hundred good friends, but One good friend is equal to a Library”. The ‘Human Book’ concept is based on Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s saying. According to the above saying, there are no printed textbooks but talking books.
These human books are not being read because they can talk and hear. Each individual is a ‘human book’ because he or sheis born with a unique story. With this concept human libraries are being established in India. With human books, one can ask questions and express views.
In the Human Library, human books can be identified according to various topics and subjects. Human Books share their stories with people. Such Human Books are being used in Human Libraries. Exchange of ideas can take place in the Human Library.
The Human Library is a very sensible way to reduce stress. This concept is suitable for city-dwellers. At present,it is also being exercised in academic institutions, especially in India.Human Library motivates people to do new things. There are many libraries around us and we need to provide them a platform to share their experience.
The Human Library has been conceptualized as an arena for intergroup contact with the exact purpose of a direct and extended reduction of prejudice and xenophobia. The initiative was developed by a group of Danish activists in 2000. Since then it has spread to 83 countries (information from organizers).
Human Libraries create opportunitiesfor conversations with a person representing a minority group which can be discriminated due to his or her ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political views, and so forth. The concept of the Human Library employs the logic of the regular library, in which users are allowed to request for a book of their choice under certain conditions.
In the Human Library, members of minorities play a role in the “Human Book” and can be “borrowed” for conversations during which they share their personal histories. “Readers”, in turn, are allowed to ask anything that they are interested in (as long as it is comfortable for the Living Book; however, they are trained volunteers who are prepared for answering questions that might be intimate, aggressive, or uncomfortable).
Usually, the Living Books not only represent a wide variety of backgrounds including religion, ethnicity, and sexuality but also their lifestyle choices and viewpoints. There are two types of Human LivingLibraries. They are open and dedicated libraries. The dedicated Library has been organised solely for members of a certain group. (e.g., students, policemen, and teachers), whereas a public Library is open for everyone who wants to be involved. (Abergel, 2005).
A person who is willing to volunteer to talk about their life story is a human library book. Most Human Books (HB) have experienced prejudice and discriminations because of their identity or part of their identity. Typically, a person chooses to be a book because they believe that their story can affect one’s understanding of a certain culture, subculture, or identity.
Readers
A person who chooses to hear stories of identity-based discrimination and prejudice from those who had experienced them. It is evident that those who disclose their stories are called “books”and those who listen and question are called “readers”.
Advantages
• Generally, It is more informal and interactive sans barriers.
• Institutions can understand the gap between expertise and knowledge and fill the existing gap.
• More interdisciplinary discussions will take place.
• New ideas will be generated.
• There will emerge better interpersonal relations and professional networks.
• The culture of the organisation is reader-oriented.
• Human Libraries enable users to disseminate knowledge.
• Everyone can grab opportunities to share his knowledge on this platform.