The Geneseo Human Books Event will be run by Milne Library in the interest of sharing human stories. This project is being headed by Alessandra Otero, a research instruction librarian at Milne Library. (Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Otero).
Listening to stories and having conversations with diverse individuals is a great way for people to learn more about different races, sexualities and ethnicities.
That is the goal of Human Books, a variation on a program known as The Human Library. According to Alessandra Otero, a research instruction librarian in Milne Library, while the program began in Denmark in 2000, it is now an event held around the world. The adaptation of Human Books for college was created by Alice Wilson from Monroe Community College and is being used in various American universities.
Otero learned about Human Books and encouraged her colleagues in Milne to plan the event. Geneseo’s first Human Books is scheduled to take place on October 21 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. during Cultural Harmony week.
Otero and the library staff encouraged students with diverse stories to fill out a form and submit brief explanations of their stories for consideration.
“This year, we’re focusing on stories related to racism, ethnicity and LGBTQ experiences,” Otero said in a Zoom interview. “Hopefully, if it goes well and we can repeat the event; we want to expand to other stories as well.”
Eventually, a platform will be available where people can browse through different Human Books. Otero said the platform will also be used to schedule appointments with participants—or “check out” books—that people want to learn more about.
“The idea is to have the book cover and if the person is interested in that cover they can click and make the appointment with that book,” Otero said. “In that period of four hours people can come to the online library, check out books, talk to the books and explore conversations.”
These conversations will be one-on-one discussions where the participant—book—can tell their story to someone who wants to listen and ask questions.
“The main focus is that it is a conversation. We wanted to make it as comfortable for people as possible to feel safe talking about their experiences,” Otero said. “Of course, for people to also be safe asking questions—whatever questions—without thinking that they are going to be misjudged or they have ill intentions.”
While these conversations can be a fun experience, it is important to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion beyond the definitions that are taught. The hope for this project is to “cultivate an intent and willingness to learn more about different ways of life, cultures and people with different backgrounds,” according to Otero.
“The importance of this event is to create a safe space where people can have conversations and learn about each other and extend those diversity, equity and inclusion principles into practice,” Otero said. “[A diverse person is] open to listen to new ideas and to listen to people’s stories and learn from them.”
Otero had planned for Human Books to be in-person, but due to COVID-19, it is online. In the future, Otero hopes to follow the original idea because “interactions in-person are richer” and provide the opportunity for people to bring objects that mean something to each person.
“We decided to do it as a one-day-only thing because it is the first time we are doing it. We needed to explore and see what areas we can improve after this event,” Otero said. “Eventually, I would love for them to be available for more than one day.”
Otero believes that Human Books will help start an ongoing conversation about diversity and equity that should not be a “one-time thing.”
“The more you participate in this conversation, the better we start understanding the meaning of diversity and understand other people’s points of view and perspectives,” Otero said. “You start to develop that kind of empathy toward a person that has a different background than yours. It’s really important that we support this initiative and come with an open mind and willingness to learn.”
Keep an eye on the Milne Library website for the platform where you can check out a book and learn how to be more an inclusive person.