Human Library
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The principle of the Human Library is simple: you can borrow living books. I.e. people in the flesh who have been discriminated against and are ready to tell their story. The objective? To fight against stereotypes.
Giving back a voice
Alcoholic. Feminist. European civil servant. Veiled woman … All these characteristics, pieces of identity, immediately call up their share of clichés. These are not people, but stereotypes that they bring out. And yet, there is always a person behind these stereotypes.
The Human Library seeks to give back a voice to people who have been subject to all kinds of discrimination. To let each of these books tell their own story to whoever will listen, in the course of a one-on-one dialogue during which the Human Book accepts to tell part of their personal story.
Dialogue and exchange
Following the principle of a traditional library, festivalgoers are invited to borrow a Human Book on the basis of a summary given in the catalogue and to engage in a dialogue with the book for a half-hour maximum. Librarians will be present to enforce certain rules and ensure the fluidity of the loans. On site, it will also be possible to reserve a book for a particular time slot.
The Human Library has been recognized by the European Council as a means to promote intercultural dialogue and to fight against all forms of discrimination; it is an educative method that is part of a global movement, in particular the international network Human Library (www.humanlibrary.org).
Since 2017 the Human Library project has been supported in Brussels by La Concertation ASBL - Action culturelle bruxelloise as part of its activities (www.laconcertation-asbl.org).
Human Library Brussels
Bibliothèque vivante 2017
Passa Porta, La Concertation, Citizenne
Coming soon at
FRLe pouvoir : Caroline de Mulder et Joseph Incardona
Chacun d’eux signe un thriller où les ambitions d’ascension économique et sociale se fracassent sur l’arrête des déterminismes et des humiliations de classes.
FRMaylis de Kerangal
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FRPromenades urbaines littéraires
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