PLG (Progressive Librarian's Guild) is hosting a Human Library at the Tucson Festival of Books. They desperately need more volunteers to be Human Books and Librarians. See a message from Stephan from PLG below:
"Human Library "Book" Registration is extended to March 5th and books get a free T-shirt!!!
Pride Alliance and the Progressive Librarians Guild are looking forvolunteers to participate in a Human Library, to be held at the Tucson Festivalof Books from 9am-5pm on Saturday March 10 and Sunday March 11 (shifts will bescheduled in 2 hour blocks, according to your schedule). Have you experienced prejudice or discrimination? Feel misunderstood? Feel stereotyped?
This is your chance to dispel the myths!
What Will I Be Doing?
Volunteers will serve as human “books” and help “readers” betterunderstand people of different backgrounds and cultures. The ‘books’ in the Human Library are people who represent groupsfrequently confronted with prejudices and stereotypes, and who are oftenvictims of discrimination or social exclusion. The ‘reader’ of the book can beanybody who is ready to talk about their own prejudices and stereotypes andwant to spend a few minutes getting to know someone new. In the Human Library,books cannot only speak, but they are able to reply to the readers' questions,and the books can even ask questions and learn themselves!
The human books are checked out for one-on-one, respectfulconversations that will last about 20 minutes. This unique opportunity allowsthe books and readers together to raise awareness of the biases and prejudicesthat we all have. The program ultimately promotes appreciation for differencesin background and culture. Examples of books range from Tea Party membersto police officers, liberals, academic librarians, people with disabilities,ex-gang members, someone who identifies as LGBTQ, communists, Muslims, membersof the military, avid sports fan, union organizer, political activist, poet,astrologer, male nanny, senior, lawyer - the list is endless! If you have everfelt you are being judged because of how you look or who you are, and you arewilling to have a conversation about that experience, we want you as a title inour Human Library. More information about the Human Library can be found at humanlibrary.org.
How toSign-Up
Please fill out a google form at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHQ0ekpvYlY2eEVyMHBkbnJaVS1UWXc6MQno later than March 5. In preparation for the form, please have thefollowing information available:
§ Your BookDescription (see below for format rules and examples, you may choose up to 3identities that you are willing to represent)
§ YourAnticipated Schedule (Please select as many 2 hour blocks as you are availablethroughout the weekend-Final schedule will be sent out in early March)
Instructions for Book Descriptions:
To be able to create thecatalogs, we need to have each book’s title and a brief description that willserve as the catalog entry. Despite the examples below, the title doesn’t haveto be just one word - just make it as simple as possible. One of the goals ofthe Human Library is to address stereotypes and biases that can exist betweenpeople. Because of this, the catalog entries usually include typicalstereotypes associated with the title. If you are comfortable listingstereotypes associated with your title, it will help readers identify their ownbiases and, we hope, give the two of you a chance to dispel some of them. Thiscan be a challenging exercise, so feel free to ask us for suggestions or, evenbetter, ask your friends/families/co-workers. There are no right answers tothis!
**Please get this information to us by WednesdayFebruary 29**
Here are a few examples, basedon a Human Library in Michigan:
Vegetarian (vegan- doesn’t eat animals or animal products):
Are they druggies, healthy, hippies, liberals,nature-oriented, outspoken, pale, skinny, weird, thoughtful of environment,animal rights people?
Home-schooler (studenteducated at home):
Are they anti-social, lonely, pale, quiet, religious,sheltered, shy, snobbish, socially inept who have no friends?
Jehovah’s Witness (religiousfaith):
Arethey annoying, arrogant, cult members, outspoken radicals, too outgoing,well-dressed, honest, kind “door knocker”?
Lawyer (occupation):
Are they argumentative, deceptive, dishonest, greedy, goodliars, rich, sly, smooth talkers, power hungry, shysters?
Liberal (political):
Are they atheists, creative, liars, smart, “out there,” laidback, “all feeling, no reason,” accepting of all, taking risks, loving change,socialists
**You maychoose up to 3 identities that you are willing to represent
If you have any questions, please email Stephan at seprzy@email.arizona.edu
Thanks!
--
Stephan Elizander Przybylowicz"
