Chennai: Human Library Chennai is a library where you can check-out humans as a living book and listen to their stories. Our motive is to create positive environments that allow people to challenge prejudice and stereotypes through dialogue. British Council in association with Human Library Chennai will host the inaugural reading session at the Chennai center on Saturday 1 July from 11.00 a.m. With an aim to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue, the session will have ‘human books’ available for reading. Parallel conversation sessions throughout the day will take place as these human books or individuals share their stories and experiences, and answer the questions of the readers.
The human books in this library are people who have experienced prejudices due to various issues such as race, sex, age, disability, sexual preference, gender identity, class, religion/belief, lifestyle choices or other aspects of who they are. The idea of this library is to allow these books to share their stories and allow the readers to widen their perspectives while listening and relating to their experiences.
Borrow these books, have a conversation with them and leave with a widened perspective on different social groups in our society.
Mei-kwei Barker, Director British Council South India said, “The Human Library is an innovative concept of reading human books in India. We are pleased to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and provide a healthy platform for dialogue and for challenging stereotypes. In the UK India Year of Culture, we are glad to be partnering with Human Library Chennai for their first event and reaching out to new audiences.”
Sailakshmi K V, Founder and Book depot manager of Human Library Chennai said, “Readers listen to the experiences from the source, and this speaks volumes about human library as the concept gives no space for information distortion. We look for impact and change, experience and honesty, not just story telling skill. Chennai is believed to be a conservative city. Yet, human library is beautifully accepted and we are having lot of enquiries as who want to be a part of the launch as readers and books.”
Category of ‘books’:
1. Transgender
2. Entrepreneurs
3. Civil servant
4. NLP Trainer
5. Psychologist
6. Food blogger
7. Spiritualism
8. Parenting
9. Educator
and many more books are continuing to register.
SaiLakshmi personally listens to the book, trains them on the experience sharing protocol and then they become a registered book at human Library.