Living Library offers new perspectives
Maiko Michishita
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News
Check out the books at "The Living Library." They literally talk.
The University Ombuds Office is sponsoring a three-day project called "The Living Library" project Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 7, in the living room of the Holcombe International Living-Learning Community.
The Living Library is a project where people can have a one-on-one conversation with someone as "a book" who has different life experiences. In spite of reading printed books, they are able to listen to the "books" and ask questions.
"We expect people to take away from their book reading experiences and open their minds to think in a different way," said Mary Honoré, graduate assistant at the UOO, who is in charge of the Living Library.
By asking questions that interest them, people are able to focus the conversation on things they want to know, she said.
The Living Library began in the fall of 2007.
"We had great responses every semester … and we are getting more people volunteering to be books and more people who are interested in signing up to the program." Honoré said. "The program is really growing."
When the former graduate assistant brought up the idea of the Living Library, Theiss said she thought it was a great way for people to sit down and have discussions and learn something from each other.
"That's the only way to learn about someone different from yourself," she said.
The UOO began the Living Library by asking individuals about their unique life experiences. Honoré said the project expands every semester by word of mouth.
"One of our university's main goals is to achieve a more diverse campus, and in our opinion, you can help do that through the Living Library … which fosters interpersonal communications," she said.
People may talk to a wide range of students, faculty and staff who volunteered for the Living Library. For example, they can speak with a person from a different country, a sorority member who became a soldier, a Vietnam War veteran or someone talking about how to ride a bike really fast.
The University Ombuds Office is sponsoring a three-day project called "The Living Library" project Wednesday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 7, in the living room of the Holcombe International Living-Learning Community.
The Living Library is a project where people can have a one-on-one conversation with someone as "a book" who has different life experiences. In spite of reading printed books, they are able to listen to the "books" and ask questions.
"We expect people to take away from their book reading experiences and open their minds to think in a different way," said Mary Honoré, graduate assistant at the UOO, who is in charge of the Living Library.
By asking questions that interest them, people are able to focus the conversation on things they want to know, she said.
The Living Library began in the fall of 2007.
"We had great responses every semester … and we are getting more people volunteering to be books and more people who are interested in signing up to the program." Honoré said. "The program is really growing."
When the former graduate assistant brought up the idea of the Living Library, Theiss said she thought it was a great way for people to sit down and have discussions and learn something from each other.
"That's the only way to learn about someone different from yourself," she said.
The UOO began the Living Library by asking individuals about their unique life experiences. Honoré said the project expands every semester by word of mouth.
"One of our university's main goals is to achieve a more diverse campus, and in our opinion, you can help do that through the Living Library … which fosters interpersonal communications," she said.
People may talk to a wide range of students, faculty and staff who volunteered for the Living Library. For example, they can speak with a person from a different country, a sorority member who became a soldier, a Vietnam War veteran or someone talking about how to ride a bike really fast.
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