By Vardan Sargsyan | Graphic Designer
Nicholas Ketchum | Deputy Editor
WCC’s second annual Human Library occurred Wednesday, March 27, as a special one-day event at the Bailey Library on campus, where visitors can browse topics and “check out” a live person as a “book” who’s offered a personal story (and even just open conversation) in a one-on-one dialogue.
According to documents provide by library staff, roughly 25 people signed up to be “books” and share their stories with “readers.”
The event, which was inspired by the first Human Library that opened almost 20 years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, aimed to encourage people to engage with others from different perspectives and societal positions, and help break down stereotyping and prejudice.
According to the event’s website, the Human Library helps “our community through open dialogue and showcasing the diversity we have…. and ‘readers’ get a chance to break down prejudices.”
Full interviews:
- May Watanabe shares her story to a group of student, describing what it was like to be in college one day and a Japanese concentration camp the next. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
- Librarians assist students in finding a human story they’d like to hear from the board display of all the stories featured in the Human Library. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
- Al Alsaidy shares with a student what it was like to emigrate to the Unites States and why his family took the risk. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
- Meghan Rose, one of the librarians that assisted students in finding a story to listen to at The Human Library, speaking with a student. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice
- Meghan Rose, one of the librarians that assisted students in finding a story to listen to at The Human Library, speaking with a student. Lily Merritt | Washtenaw Voice