Last year, Nucleus, through its Regional Learning Centre (RLC), was asked to lead the implementation of the Human Library for all Health Service Providers (HSPs) across Central Region. The project was so successful that funding has been expanded for another year.
The Human Library
is a not-for-profit international organization and movement that first started in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2000 and has been used in over 80 countries by a wide range of organizations. The Human Library approach promotes understanding and celebrates differences of diverse individuals and groups who are often subject to prejudice or discrimination. Its diversity learning approach aims to address stigma and stereotypes through open personal conversations with people they may normally not meet. The experience creates a safe space to explore diversity through transparent dialogues. In this library, readers borrow people instead of books, in the hopes of bridging misunderstandings, misconceptions, and divisions. Participants, known as ‘readers’ ‘check out’ a human book (trained volunteer with lived experience) and have a conversation that wouldn't normally happen due to social norms to avoid being socially inappropriate, insulting or uninformed. Human books could include, but are not limited to, communities most affected by social and health inequities, such as Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, refugees, racialized individuals, and people with disabilities.
To date, the RLC has led 12 Human Library events, with over 600 participants, including post-reflection sessions for 'readers' to critically discuss initial reactions of the experience. The initiative has also led to the publishing of 21 Ontario-based ‘books’ within the following pillars: Health, Social Status, Ethnicity, Gender, Mental Health, Addiction, Victim/Survivor, Disability, Religion, Neurodiversity, Sexuality, Lifestyle, Family Relations, Ideology, which health service providers will continue to read in the coming years.
The response from participants to date have been overwhelmingly positive with many requesting to attend a second (or third!) time.
