Safer spaces to have conversations – spaces still available

September 28, 2023

On Wednesday 4 October from 2pm – 4pm we will be launching the Human Library to support our commitment to creating safe spaces for staff to have conversations about issues in relation to prejudice going beyond the nine protected characteristics.

The human library experience is a rare opportunity in today’s diverse world to discover the differences of others without fear of judgment, to travel the world via Zoom, and to encounter learning opportunities through conversation and dialogue.

The human library publish people as open books on varied topics describing life experiences from beliefs to diagnoses, family relations to gender, social status to identity, disability to surviving tragedy or trauma.

Within breakout group reading rooms, you can engage via curious yet courteous questioning and have courageous conversations with cultures and experiences other than your own without the risk of offense being taken or your language and knowledge needing to be perfect.

Below are some links to videos and articles that provide more information about the Human Library:

1.     This library lets you borrow people instead of books. It just may help bridge our bitter divisions – a CNN article

2.     https://www.foxla.com/video/1088353 – Fox TV Good Day LA

3.     https://www.weforum.org/videos/how-human-books-can-tackle-societal-prejudice – World Economic Forum video

4.     https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09v5z2g – BBC World Service

5.     At this library you check out a human not a book — and Sit Down to Talk | KQED – freelance journalist Clare Wiley

6.     The Human Library is tackling diversity and inclusion one person at a time – Forbes

If you are interested in being a reader please contact Library Services via email: swbh.library@nhs.net or call ext. 3587 to book a place . Places are limited and there is already a lot of demand and therefore we encourage you to book on asap to ensure you can participate in this event.