The Human Library comes to Ballyroan Rathfarnham Tuesday 9th March

25/02/2010

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

*** Press Release ****

The Human Library at Ballyroan Library, Rathfarnham: People for Hire

Borrow a Prejudice at a library where the books literally can speak.

South Dublin County Libraries, in association with South Dublin County Council’s  Social Inclusion Unit, host the Human Library at Ballyroan Library, Orchardstown Avenue, Rathfarnham on Tuesday  9^th March from 6pm-8pm.

In the Human Library, instead of borrowing books “readers” can borrow a Gay Woman, a Traveller, a Government Minister, a Priest, a Muslim or an Environmentalist, a Human Rights Activist who has overcome Literacy Difficulties (and many more) for a chat. The aim is to challenge and overcome prejudices and stereotypical judgments.

The Human Library allows “readers” to have a candid chat with people (“books”) they’d normally never meet.

The first official Human Library in Ireland was held at South Dublin’s County Library in Tallaght last October. The event was a huge success for all who participated – the books, readers and organisers.

The Human Library originated in Copenhagen where Ronnie Abergel, then a 19-year-old student, and some friends set up an NGO called Stop the Violence after a friend was brutally stabbed. Thousands of teens joined the NGO which used peer education to stop youngsters carrying knives. From there the group came up with the Living (Human) Library, which is now a huge success with over 100 events in 23 countries.

Don’t judge a book by its cover – come along to Ballyroan Library on Tuesday 9^th March between 6pm and 8pm. Borrow a “book” and share stories of personal challenges and endurance. As Human Library founder Ronnie Abergel has said: “With dialogue comes understanding and with that comes tolerance, and that's the mission of the Living Library: to promote understanding and tolerance through dialogue."

This event is part of Library Ireland Week, a celebration of all the resources that libraries have to offer.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday 9^th March

Open: 6 - 8 pm

Duration of loans: 15 minutes per book (you can renew your book if nobody is waiting!)

Location: Ballyroan Library, Orchardstown Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.

Contact person: Patricia Fitzgerald / Caroline Higgins Tel 01-4597834 or email pfitzgerald@sdublincoco.ie or chiggins@sdublincoco.ie.