The idea of the Human Library is based on the belief that human rights included in legal regulations make sense only if they are well known and respected by everybody. The initiative assumes that the only way to understand someone's being different is to stand face to face with his dissimilarity. Therefore, the Human Library gathers representatives of various discriminated groups. Owing to the Library, they are going to become available for the asking, which will create an open form of interpersonal relation.
Each of the representatives is a "book" which may be borrowed for 20-30 minutes. In this way, borrowers have a unique chance to verify their opinions, or maybe even find origins of their own prejudices. A registered reader is going to receive a library card which will authorize him to borrow books. This will make him able to get acquainted with the library catalogue containing available "books" - people representing groups often associated with certain stereotypes, which are frequently unaccepted or excluded from the society. The Library's principles of operation will be explained by librarians, who can also help to choose an interesting "book".
Very few people have the opportunity to experience a change in their own attitude towards people who differ from them. A Human Library project encourages us to broaden our own horizons, develop the understanding of stereotypes and prejudices, and learn about their consequences. It is a great chance for inhabitants of our city to learn about human rights in order to react in situations when a human dignity is violated.
A Human Library is not only an attempt to befriend discriminated groups and individuals - it is also an intense interpersonal relation, establishing a direct contact with our own prejudices and their origins.
Inspired by the activity of those who proved their courage and creativity fighting with prejudices and stereotypes, we decided to do our best to make Gdańsk join the list of cities which disagree with the violation of human rights. The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre and the Artistic Agency Freakpointing have created an educational project composed of three educational modules. Following events will take place within the modules:
The aim of this training is to teach how to prepare and carry out a course on the Human Library organisation (the training is carried out with the use of informal educational methods).
Problem issues
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The Human Library as a method of teaching about human rights.
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History and aims of the Human Library.
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Various forms of the Human Library (in a library environment, in a school, in a bus, on a festival, on-line).
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Challenges of the Human Library - human rights and the problem of discrimination.
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Human Library - a step-by-step instruction.
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Human Library dilemmas - controversies related to the project.
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Human Libraries' experiences in Poland and Europe
Trainings are taking place on 6th and 7th of March 2010 in the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre.
www.zywabibliotekagdansk.blogspot.com
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The Wall action (the artistic resuscitation of the city from the hate speech - an informal method of struggling with discrimination).
The Wall actions' aim is to develop a social awareness of activities counteracting the discrimination and violation of human dignity. It is to draw our attention to examples of unequal treatment; the action uses various creative solutions as a form of combating discrimination.
The action is going to include:
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A rendez-vous with art – the Street art. An unconventional prelection on the artistic activity of a British artist Robert Banksy.
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An exhibition of photographs documenting artistic achievements of The Wall action.
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A poster contest. The subject of the contest is: Do not judge a book by its cover.
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Additional prelections on the use of informal educational methods in combating discrimination and stereotypes.
www.myspace.com/zywabiblioteka
