What is a Human Library?
A Human Library is a library where real people, are on loan to readers. The Human Library creates a safe conversational space where topics are discussed openly between a human book and a reader (community member). Every ‘human book’ from the library represents people who have been exposed to discrimination, stigma, prejudice, and have a story to tell.

 

 

 

 

MARCH 2023 Book Titles

Book titles:
My Journey of Self acceptance: You can't pray the gay away, Marks in My Life: Ecuador to Glebe and everywhere in between, A Slight Change of Plans: Map out your future but do it in pencil, Sounds of Silence, Cut Me Some Slack: I'm 40+ years Australian

Book descriptions

My Journey of Self acceptance: You can't pray the gay away
Growing up in the Anglican faith in a small country town, my childhood was insulated. Differences weren't seen or discussed. During my teens I was introduced to the Born-Again Christian Church, attracted to the amazing music, but inwardly seeking a way to pray for acceptance and to challenge who I felt I was. Attending college was a turning point. I began to have new experiences and think about living for myself. Aged 19, I dropped out of college and scored a job at a factory. I met and befriended people who were gay - who seemed 'normal', fun and loving people. Sport became a huge love, which brought more exposure to gay people. An experience in my mid 20s led me to finally accept that I was gay. It wasn't long after that I met my future and current wife, who I have been with for 25 years.

 Marks in My Life: Ecuador to Glebe and everywhere in between

Leaving Ecuador and arriving in Sydney in the early 1970s with no job, no plans, little English and no idea was ‘fate’ for this book. Adopting a childhood philosophy of ‘don’t do bad deeds to others because you don’t want bad deeds to happen to you’, this book faced all manner of circumstances to succeed in a system that was completely foreign. With a pregnant wife back in Ecuador, his priority was to work hard to build a new life for his family. Despite cultural and communication challenges, hard work and a positive attitude saw opportunities arise. But with these opportunities came difficulties newcomers to Australia can face, which are still relevant today.

 A Slight Change of Plans: Map out your future but do it in pencil

A fascination with motorbikes and a naturally rebellious spirit from an early age led this book to a life in a bikie club; hanging out with Sydney bikies in the 80s, meeting rockstars and One Percenters. But what happens when an unexpected accident changes your life? From bikie to disability advocate, this book has never let anything get in the way of living life ... even their tattoos have stories!

Sounds of Silence

Born deaf in the 1950s, this book felt the stigma of being different from a very early age. With a mother who was adamant she would fit into the hearing community, this book has lived most of her life belonging, but not belonging, in two different worlds: the hearing community and the deaf community. The sense of not belonging has been difficult, and the search for her full identity is ongoing. On top of this, along came Covid, and the treatment this book experienced in the face of her deafness proved to be another challenge. With a naturally wicked sense of humour, this proud woman is looking forward to sharing her story, and teachings about the deaf community.

Cut Me Some Slack: I'm 40+ years Australian

This book arrived in Australia when they were 20 years old, 20 weeks pregnant and had $20 in their pocket. However, this is not the experience this book wishes to resonate with you, find out what it is like to have lived in a country for 46 years yet still be seen as from elsewhere, raising children, studying, and working, all while living in various places around Australia, this book has many stories to tell and prefers not to be defined by where they have come from. This book reflects on the concepts of otherness and belonging, and what it is like to be a hyphenated Australian.

 

Examples of ‘books’ that could be in the Human Library collection?
We are seeking people who have any personal stories on the themes of diversity, belonging and inclusion. Other Human Libraries have offered human ‘books’ with titles such as:
First Nations person, Elder, Migrant Community, Transgendered, Non-Binary Gender Queer, Person living with a disability, Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Disability Rights Advocates, Nurse (who worked during Covid), A person experiencing homelessness, Housing Advocate, Mental Health Advocate, Intellectual disability, Neuro-Diverse, Visually Impaired, Auslan signer…