What is a Human Living Library?
The basic concept of Human Living Libraries is self-explanatory: the books can be any one person who is willing to tell their personal story or a faction of their own story in a one-on-one conversation, which normally goes on for no shorter than thirty minutes, as one can hardly have a meaningful conversation about anything in less time than that.
The first Human Living Libraries event was part of a project for Roskilde Festival in Copenhagen in 2000. Their goal was to challenge stereotypes and talk about subjects often considered taboo.
More information about this global initiative: Human Living Library website
Credit: Kate Lundy via flickr
About the event
This event is featuring the following four human books of different minority backgrounds living in Australia, the theme of the event is combating isolation, unemployment, racism, cultural differences and general loneliness that comes with belonging to a minority group and the power of community raising up to lend a helping hand. This event is to bring culturally diverse people together to start a conversation and make a change, as it has been proven in the past that when the sons and daughters of many cultures work together is when the real magic happens.
More information about this global observance: United Nations website
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About the books
One of the books is a first generation Chinese migrant who has built a restaurant franchise in the region,
Our second book is an Indigenous Australian musician who busks for a living and teaches music to children in his community (and is married to a first generation European migrant, thus knows each side of being part of a minority extremely well),
Our third book is Iranian, whose family fled Iran in the early 2000s, she is completing her doctorate through a scholarship, rising to success from poverty and hardship,
Our fourth living book is from the UK, is a university professor in his 50s and has the knowledge of what it is like to migrate to Australia from an English speaking country.
The event takes place on Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development Day.
When: 21st May 2022
What time: 9:00am to 6:00pm
Where: Pearl Cove Library, Pearl Room
Tickets: $10/person
Bookings essential at: Eventbrite or at the Library
Conditions of entry: This event is CovidSafe.
Facemasks and Vaccination Certificates are a must.
Refreshments: There will be water, coffee, tea, biscuits and cultural finger food available at the event (this is included in the price).
Age bracket: 14 and over welcome!
Zsófia Boltos-Varga, 807088149
