Living Library at Sidmouth

Subject: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 05:03 PM

Living Library: don't borrow a book, borrow a person! Who would you find it really hard to have a conversation with? A racist? A socialist? Someone with a disability? A transgendered person? A hunt sabateur? A Tory councillor? A New Labour MP? Someone with mental health issues? A refugee?

Challenge your stereotypes. Take a 30 minute loan of a human "book" and find out what makes them tick. Living Libraries is a world-wide network, which promotes understanding and breaks down barriers between people. We'll be hosting one at Sidmouth Folk Week, as a Folk Against Fascism event.

WE NEED BOOKS! Would you like to be a book for a Living Library session? PM me. We will also need librarians on the day, so get in touch if you're interested in taking part.

Article on Living Libraries from The Times

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: GUEST,noreen
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 07:38 PM

very interesting and thought-provoking article. Good luck with this for sidmouth!

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 08:09 PM

Thanks. We already have a new-age traveller and a single mum who have come forward! Hoping lots of people will want to take part, as Books, as Borrowers, or both.

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 08:10 PM

Oop - add a tax inspector! Hurrah!

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: Gervase
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 04:13 AM

What a great idea - I'd love to take part, but sadly won't be at Sidmouth this year. I do hope the 'stock' isn't too self-selecting and liberal - after all, in the interests of diversity, it would be interesting to have a BNP supporter on the shelves ;-)

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 04:18 AM

Hi Gervase. I think it's absolutely vital to the project's success that we get a genuine cross-section of people. We're going to promote the event locally and recruit Books from within the town as well as festival-goers, which will probably help with this.

Apart from anything else, numerous Sidmouth residents (or at least the ones who write to the local paper) have some pretty entrenched ideas about the "scruffy hippies" that turn up in their town once a year...it will be nice to address some of those prejudices, too!

Subject: RE: Living Library at Sidmouth
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 12:29 PM

refresh