Come and borrow a person at the Edinburgh Libraries Fair!

 This year Edinburgh City Libraries will be trying something a bit different! As part of the Edinburgh Libraries Fair on Saturday 8th November, we'll be launching an exciting new initiative, The Living Library.

What is the Living Library?

Pioneered in Denmark, The Living Library allows someone to 'borrow' a person for a conversation, to explore their experience or interests and to understand other backgrounds and cultures. The project seeks to develop closer cohesion between cultures and between individuals within the community, taking advantage of the trusted place of libraries in people's experience.

Living Library gives direct access to someone else’s experience, by allowing people to ‘Borrow’ a Book i.e. a person who has significant experience or a different perspective to share. It can be used to confront stereotypes and prejudices, to explore diversity, or simply to stimulate conversations (Loans) that otherwise might not happen.

"Like a light going on"
People who have participated in the project elsewhere in Britain have been struck by the way it helped them reconsider their prejudices and preconceptions. In some cases it also allowed them to add a human dimension to what they had hitherto seen as remote historical events. Speaking of a discussion with a Dunkirk war veteran, one reader said "He brought alive books that I have read. It was like a light going on".

Our "Books"
We have an exciting range of people lined up for the Living Library stall on 8th November, including a policeman, a blogger, a poet, a Polish speaker, a Quaker, two Chinese speakers and a war veteran. All of them are looking forward to meeting you and having a chat.

The Living Libraries stall can be found as part of the Edinburgh Libraries Fair on Saturday 8 November, 10.00-4.00, Adam House, Chambers Street.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

For further information please contact Ewan McCormick on 0131 529 5638 or ewan.mccormick@edinburgh.gov.uk

Links
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3790377.ece
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7393323.stm