Sunday January 19th, 2014 Check out an Interesting Person at the Human Library!

There are a wide variety of reasons why people visit pblic libraries. Some come to borrow books to read for fun, or to learn something. Some come to borrow movies, music and magazines. People come to use computers to write a resume, access the internet and Library databases, use free Wifi and for a space to work, study or rest. Some come in groups, to work or socialize together, some come alone or with family. People come to attend story times, puppet shows, book clubs and other programs. On Saturday, you can come to the Library and check out an interesting person. 

The Human Library is being held at the Brodie Resource Library on Saturday January 25th between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.  Drop in and look for the Human Library Circulation Desk on the main floor in the Fireside Reading Room.  Limited times are available for pre-booking.  Contact Jesse at 624-4203 or jroberts@tbpl.ca to pre-book.  The Human Library is suitable for all ages

The Human Library is a unique opportunity for you to have a conversation with someone you might not otherwise get to meet.  In a Human Library people become the books.  We first held a Human Library in October 2012 and then again in January 2013.  Some of the "books" people checked out at the first two events included:  a police officer, a Muslim woman, a tattoo apprentice, a litigation lawyer, a transgendered person, a recovering drug addict, a young aboriginal from a northern community, a person living with mental illness, an Ojibway elder and a person living with a disability.

The Human Library movement started in Denmark in 1993 and has since spread all over the world.  The Web site humanlibrary.org explains that the idea was born from a tragic incident where a young person was assaulted.  That person's friends wanted to do something positive to address violence. They decided that giving people the opportunity to sit down and talk with "those people" -- those they had misconceptions about -- would go a long way to mutual understanding. Humanlibrary.org explains that the Human Library is a “keep it simple”, “no-nonsense” contribution to social cohesion in multicultural societies.

We are pleased to once again be working in partnership with CBC Radio Thunder Bay to bring you the Human Library.  Listen to 88.3 FM this week to hear interviews with the Human Books, and visit our Web site, www.tbpl.ca / Get Involved /Human Library for more information. Joanna Aegard