Joining the Human Library: Changing the world through conversation

This year as we were planning our trip to Burningman I came across an interesting project called the Flybrary. It was a combination art, education, and social justice piece. The Human Library Project was started in Denmark in 2000 by journalist Ronni Abergel for "Stop the Violence" organization. The concept was to use living people instead of books, creating deep meaningful conversations to breakdown stereotypes and prejudice. The project now exists in 85 countries and describes itself as:

"The Human Library is an association which strives to create empathy, respect, and understanding for the diversity in society through our work. We do this, by creating a safe space for dialogue, where challenging and taboo subjects can be discussed in the open without being condemned. A place where people who otherwise would never meet nor talk, can find room for conversation. A place, where ​the reader ​ can sit down with a complete stranger, who are volunteering to answer questions about being homeless, a refugee, bisexual, Muslim, handicapped, HIV+, or a police officer. A place, where the reader can ask honestly, and get an honest answer from the people who are living the life themselves."

As a personal passionate about social justice, ending interpersonal violence, global peace, bringing together community, and having deep discussions, this place seemed perfect for me. The added bonus was that this year it would be at burningman, on the playa (the big desert we call home) with an art piece to go with it. 

Through the process of interviews, applications, and trying to properly hone my book title, I was able to solidify my plans. Of course, its Burningman, so nothing really goes as planned, but you learn to be flexible, make changes, and somehow thing work out. My first glimpse of the "Flybrary" was at night. It was stationed close to "The Man," a huge statuesque human head with books flying out of the head like a flock of birds being set free.  People were gathered around in awe.

When I found my way there in daylight after passing through several clouds of duststorms on my decorated bike, I learned you could climb inside the sculpture and read some of the highly curated books residing inside. I got myself checked in and waited to be checked out. It didn't take long. Readers could check me out for up to 30 minutes before returning me to the library. I had several really great readings, each selecting a different title of my book to read initially. 

I ended up meeting some really cool human books, librarians, curators, and readers. It was such a unique experience to sit under the blazing hot sun in the middle of the desert laying bare your most intimate and vulnerable aspects of yourself for a stranger in hopes that they will truly see the person in front of them and not the box they created in their mind.  Each sharing experience was different. The books were about Survivors of suicide, Immigrants, Atheists, Domestic Partnerships, Lesbians, African Americans, Multi-racial individuals, Polyamory, growing up Mormon, and perceptions of "the pretty girl" to name a few. ​Each story I heard was unique and of course everyone looked friggin fabulous even covered with mountains of dust and dirt. Fascinating to hear the stories of peoples lives and the complexities of their journeys. I hope someday you have the opportunity to unjudged someone.

You can read or watch more videos about the human library here:
 Ronni Abergel (Co-founder) doing a Ted Talk about the HL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZmEqksaEVU
2. HL being conducted at the University of Fairfield, US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjFHlR5DmJk 
3. HL described in 1 minute! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCGBXKy4Wuk 
Instagram for the International Human Library: https://www.instagram.com/humanlibraryorganization/

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