HARDWICK – Last month I wrote about April’s poetry slam at the Jeudevine. Poetry slams have been around for a while, but this was a first for the Jeudevine, and perhaps for Hardwick as well.
This month, as a participant in our town’s signature annual event, the Hardwick Spring Festival, the Jeudevine is presenting another first: the Human Library. When I heard the term I imagined a group of people, in costumes resembling books, marching in our parade. The costumes would feature a cover with book title and appropriate art: Huckleberry Finn, Black Beauty, The Red Badge of Courage. Perhaps the marchers would recite passages to onlookers. But no, strike that image: I was completely off base.
The Human Library is an international movement that began in Denmark. It is literally a library of people. Its aim is to fight prejudice and preconceived impressions by lending people, not books. On its website it describes itself as a “worldwide movement for social change.” Its hope is that participants come away from the interaction with a different perspective on the stereotypes they might have held previously. It allows readers to borrow a person they might not otherwise meet or speak with, and listen to that person’s story, and even engage in dialogue. Each human book is experienced in their titular topic.
The Jeudevine version of the Human Library will take place this Saturday, May 23, at the Jeudevine from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. Each book (person) will be available for four 30-minute sessions. The names of the people serving as books will not be shared in advance so as to prevent readers from developing preconceptions. Each of the participating books live in our community. You may sign up for our version of the Human Library at the Jeudevine this week.
At present the event is offering eleven human books. The book titles and blurbs include:
“Your Heart Knows the Way Home: Is compassion teachable?” Let’s explore everyday life through lens switching and framing. You don’t know who you are until you’re tested.
Finding Our Way: Bouncing through jobs and adventures after high school and college until chance and diligence favored a focused career. Personal success is often just a well-told story.
“How Not to Write an Autobiography: Is it the pen or the mind?” Attempting to write your own story and how your mind can be a deterrent.
“The Whitest State: Growing Up Brown in God’s Country.”
“Junction Road Horses: Life with Drs. Brick and Maizie.” Horses as therapists.
And “Vietnam Elegy: You can’t play Centerfield in the Mekong.”
