1. Learning in a Human Library: don’t judge a book by it’s cover!
Hearing Voices–Social Change
&
Sheffield Hallam University
RCOT Belfast 13th June 2018

2. Human Library
‘Hearing Voices-Social Change’ we are a Lincolnshire community forum & we welcome you to our ‘Human Library’
Human Libraries, the current project for our ‘grass roots community work’
Interest in our work is growing, with support from community networks and partnerships

3. Human Library Sleaford Swimming pool for our meeting up room
Thanks to our community partnerships:
Sleaford Swimming pool for our meeting up room
United Together community support groups
Lincolnshire mental health workers
Sheffield Hallam University – Nick Pollard & Maureen
Sleaford Library & New Life Conference
Celtic folk band ‘Cruel Sister’ & many more

4. Human Library We are going to have some fun to start our workshop …
What things may be true or untrue? - Chris in charge here….

5. Human Library Talk to your neighbours – small groups
Choose 4 things about yourself one is not true, only things you are happy to share
Ask your neighbours if they can tell which is true / untrue.

6. Human Library How did you get on ? Were there any surprises ?
Does this tell you anything about our own attitudes, assumptions and prejudices ?

7. Human Library Taking part in a Human Library can help us:
Better understand the life stories & experiences of people we meet
To think and respond more carefully
To challenge our own perceptions of relationships with people we meet

8. Human Library The early years in Copenhagen, Denmark
After brutal attack 1993 a young friend was stabbed and nearly died
Led by Ronnie Abergel, in response to discrimination and hate crime, an idealistic youth organisation called “Stop The Violence” was set up by Danish activists.
Very soon there were 30,000 members
Impressive given pre-explosion of social media

9. Human Library History of the Human Library
2000 Roskilde music festival in Denmark, invited by the festival director at that time, Leif Skov, the concept of the Human Library was created by Ronnie Abergel, his brother Dany & colleagues Asma Mouna & Christoffer Erichsen
The idea was to use language and dialogue within the mechanisms of a library, to facilitate conversations that challenge prejudice & discrimination through social contact thereby reducing the risk of tension and violence

10. Networking in a Human Library
Today the Human Library is an international equalities movement that challenges prejudice and discrimination through social contact. Similar to a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can choose from a range of titles.
The overall aim is to promote more understanding, break down barriers and enable people to get their views heard. Through dialogue, we can learn from each other. This will inform our work with vulnerable people to promote recovery and empowerment into all our practice.

11. Human Library ‘Menneskebiblioteket’ - ‘Human Library’
Created by Ronni Abergel & his brother Dany and colleagues Asma Mouna & Christoffer Erichsen
Open for 8 hours a day for 4 days
More than 1000 books were read
Leaving the Human Books, Librarians, Readers & organisers stunned by the impact

12. Human Library
From a base in Copenhagen the creators and founders of the Human Library movement have helped it grow steadily across the world and is now active in over 80 countries
Katy Jon Went is working to bring together a UK based Human Library forum.
Look up the website

13. www.humanlibrary.org Human Library Hearing Voices-Social Change
& Human Library Project
Cathy, work in progress MSc research project with Sheffield Hallam University

14. Human Library
Human Library is similar process to a public library in towns everywhere
The Books are people
Reading is a conversation
The Human Library provides a safe place for people to engage in dialogue

15. Human Library Mechanisms of the Human Library
Rights of the Book & Reader
Librarian role is to support the conversation between Human Book and the Reader
A Human Book loan is a maximum of 15 minutes and there is no opportunity to extend or re-new the loan period
The Librarians time the loan period carefully.

16. Human Library Human Books & Readers each have the right to:
be treated with respect
ask any question
not answer a question if they do not wish to.
end a conversation if they wish
Readers do not have the right to:
take a Book outside the Human Library to bend or tear pages, to annotate or take notes (without permission), and must return the Human Book in the same physical and mental condition in which it was issued.

17. Human Library Over to Chris What it means to be a Human Book
Preparation
Being read by a reader
It is okay to be an observer
De-brief at end of the workshop if needed

18. Human Library Process of the Library for us today;
We need Human Books, Librarians and Readers for our Human Library
Maureen Coleman & John Tear will be our head Librarians
Nick Pollard & Chris Wood are taking turns supporting the Human Books & being a Human Book, looking after yourself, confidentiality, only talk about things you feel comfortable to talk about, all topics welcome
Cathy to support the process of our Human Library Workshop throughout

19. Human Library
There are badges for:
Human Books
Librarians
Readers

20. Human Library Human Book – in more detail
Has a title and a very brief synopsis maximum of 3 or 4 lines. Like the sleeve of a library book.
Looking after yourself, confidentiality
Only talk about things you feel comfortable to talk about all topics welcome
Your Human Book title & brief synopsis will be placed in the Library catalogue. The Readers will look through the Human Books available and select one which interests them.

21. Human Library Readers - in more detail
Browse through the Human Books library catalogue
Readers select a Human Book which looks interesting and one they wish to meet.
Readers are supported by the Librarian to meet the Human Book for a maximum loan period of 15 minutes.
This meeting takes place in public within our occupation station space.

22. Human Library Librarians in more detail
The Librarians support the Readers in process of loaning the Human Book
Further the Librarians support the Reader to meet the Human Book and prepare for the 15 minute conversation.
The Librarian will time the conversation carefully, there is no opportunity to extend or re-new the loan period

23. Human Library Look through the Human Library Catalogue.
Choose a Human Book
The Human Books and the Readers will be supported by the Librarians to have the 15 minute conversation.
Together we will make this inspirational experience work.
The Human Library opens with a poem ‘It’s Good To Talk’ (written by John Welsh The Poet).

24. Human Library
We if you can help us with evaluating today, to share their thoughts with us, please use the post-its &/or
We learn something new from each Human Library which we can take forward to inform the next one. Each Human Library is unique and different.

25. Human Library 2pm Welcome to Workshop
2.05pm Introduction to ‘Learning in a Human Library: Don’t Judge a Book by its cover!’
2.20pm Time to prepare roles Books, Librarians, Readers,
2..30pm ‘It is Good to Listen’ reading of poem by John the Poet & Human Library opens.
3.20pm Human Library closes and we gather together briefly for reflections and to sing ‘Tell me Ma – The Belle of Belfast City’.
3.35pm end of Human Library workshop.

26. Human Library Everybody is responsible for everything
Think globally, act locally
Nothing changes if nothing is done to change
The aim is not to attain the goals proposed, but the process above all
There is no public ethic without a personal ethic
Principles attributed to Herbert de Suza by Molinas Maldonado & Monoy Peralta as cited in Kronenberg F, Sino Algado S, Pollard N. (2005) Occupational therapy without borders: Learning from the spirit of survivors, Edinburgh, Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.

27. Human Library
Further notes & References
Dreher, T. & Mowbray, J. (2012). The power of one on one: Human libraries and the challenge of antiracism work. Shopfront Monograph Series 3. Broadway, NSW.:UTS ePress. Retrieved on-line June
NHS (2016) A report from the independent Mental Health Taskforce to the NHS in England February 2016 [on-line] last accessed (p2)
McNulty C, Lamming N, Pollard N, Wood C (2017) The Human Library – Feature Mental Health, in Occupational Therapy News RCOT. (May 2017) pp20-22.
Principles attributed to Herbert de Suza by Molinas Maldonado & Monoy Peralta as cited in Kronenberg F, Sino Algado S, Pollard N. (2005) Occupational therapy without borders: Learning from the spirit of survivors, Edinburgh, Elsevier/Churchill Livingstone.
Public awareness regarding mental health may be slowly changing. However, stigma, discrimination and negative attitudes towards people with mental health needs remain prevalent and need challenging. (NHS England.2016).
Cathy McNulty best wishes and full of hope.
Occupational Therapist Registered Health Care Professions Council. HCPC
Member Royal College Occupational Therapists
mobile

28. I’ll Tell me Ma
I'll tell me Ma when I go home, The boys won't leave the girls alone. They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb, Well that's alright till I go home.
She is handsome. She is pretty. She is the bell of Belfast City. She is courtin' one, two, three. Please won't you tell me, who is she?

29. I’ll Tell me Ma
Albert Mooney say's he loves her. All the boy's are fighting for her. They knock at the door and ring at the bell Sayin' "Oh my true love, are you well"? Out she comes as white as snow, Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes. Ole Jenny Murray says she'll die If you don't get the fella With the roving eye.

30. I’ll Tell me Ma
I'll tell me Ma when I go home, The boys won't leave the girls alone. They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb, Well that's alright till I go home.
She is handsome. She is pretty. She is the bell of Belfast City. She is courtin' one, two, three. Please won't you tell me, who is she?

31. I’ll Tell me Ma
Let the wind and the rain and hail blow high And the snow come tumbling from the sky, She's as nice as apple pie. She'll get her own lad by and by. When she gets a lad of her own, She won't tell her Ma when she gets home. Let them all come as they will For it's Albert Mooney she loves still.

32. I’ll Tell me Ma
I'll tell me Ma when I go home, The boys won't leave the girls alone. They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb, Well that's alright till I go home.
She is handsome. She is pretty. She is the bell of Belfast City. She is courtin' one, two, three. Please won't you tell me, who is she?