Everyone has a story to tell. Some stories we rarely or never hear. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to meet one-on-one with new people—especially those with experiences we may never have encountered—to hear the unique stories they have to share? Conversing with people whose lives may appear different from our own can help encourage empathy and a deeper understanding among members of our community.

To reveal those stories, the Evanston Public Library is hosting a “Human Library” on Sunday, April 15, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A Human Library is much like a regular library except that the “Books” are living human beings with stories to tell. The Books are volunteers who have agreed to challenge prejudices through respectful conversation.

What will they have to say? What might you learn?

Borrowing a Book from the Human Library allows the Reader and the Book to enter into a personal dialogue for a set period of time. The Books in the Human Library are people who may have been confronted with prejudices and stereotypes, and may have faced discrimination or social exclusion. The Books are community members who are willing to share their experiences of prejudice and/or discrimination based on race, religion, sexual preference, class, gender identity, lifestyle, disability, or another aspect of their lives. At the EPL event, Readers will borrow these human Books for 20 to 25 minutes in a public space mediated by librarians, volunteers, and staff who make sure everyone is safe and comfortable.  

This event is open to all, including families, with a limit of three Readers per one conversation with each Book. We ask that children under the age of 16 be accompanied by a parent.  In the Human Library, Books cannot only tell their stories, but they can respond to a Reader’s questions and can ask questions themselves.