KU to Host Human Library March 28

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown University Commission on Human Diversity, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Rohrbach Library are pleased to present “The Human Library,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, Rohrbach Library. The Human Library is designed to build a positive framework for conversations that can challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers. A place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

The Human Library, or “Menneskebiblioteket” as it is called in Danish, was created in Copenhagen in the spring of 2000 by Ronni Abergel and his brother Dany and colleagues Asma Mouna and Christoffer Erichsen.  The Human Library is, in the true sense of the word, a library of people. We host events where readers can borrow human beings serving as open books and have conversations they would not normally have access to. Every human book from our bookshelf represents a group in our society that is often subjected to prejudice, stigmatization or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, disability, social status, ethnic origin, etc.

Kutztown University hosted its own Human Library in 2017 and 2019.  This year’s library will feature 15 books with topics ranging from Addiction to Living with Bipolar Disorder, to Being Transgender to Surviving Cancer and many more. The books are volunteers including KU students, staff and faculty and some members of the community. The event is registered with the international Human Library Organization headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.