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Saturday, September 26, 2009

Living Library Concept Spreading Worldwide



I couldn't resist this photo. It's from Denmark's Living Library event. Are any libraries working hosting a Living Library? It sounds like a really cool idea and could be a great program for diversity teams, teen groups, or a library project.

Here's how they describe it:
The Living Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding.The main characteristics of the project are to be found in its simplicity and positive approach.

In it’s initial form the Living Library is a mobile library set up as a space for dialogue and interaction. Visitors to the Living Library are given the opportunity to speak informally with “people on loan”; this latter group being extremely varied in age, sex and cultural background.

The Living Library enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging the most common prejudices in a positive and humorous manner. It is a concrete, easily transferable and affordable way of promoting tolerance and understanding.

Sounds like a world changing project. Let me know if you're planning on hosting one.

2 comments:

ahniwa said...

We had two library systems here in Washington State offer Living Library programs. As far as I know, both programs went very well.

http://living-library.org/bainbridge-island-library.html

http://living-library.org/timberland-regional-library.html

~Kathy Dempsey said...

I've always loved this concept too. I mentioned it in my book The Accidental Library marketer. The official website is at http://living-library.org/