Andy and Bernadette have been married for more than 23 years. That is longer than the Human Library has been in existence. They are one of very few couples that are also both Books on our bookshelf. If you are lucky you can read them when they are published at our events in the United Kingdom. 

A Book about Deafness

Andy has been deaf all of his life but he does not see himself like that, “it’s just something that I learned to deal with” he says. He is a Book on overcoming obstacles and achieving success in life while dealing with a hearing disability.  

He was the youngest of five children, so safe to say it was a full house which provided him with valuable life skills: “I picked up language quite well, it was a busy house”. 

Parents Resisted Sending Andy to a School for Deaf Children

In the 1970s when he was five years old, the local authorities wanted to send him to a school for children that were deaf, which would entail that he was going to be away from home. 

“My mom and dad were against it because they felt that I was a normally functioning kid”. Andy then had to take an intelligence test to prove he was just like a ‘normal’ child, and to the surprise of the authorities, he turned out to be quite intelligent: “I obviously did OK and ended up going to a normal school”. 

Awarded by Lady Diana and Hired by Heineken

He was the first child with a hearing disability to go to that school, “And I did well” he adds.  “Eventually I went to university and was given an award for ‘Young Deaf Achiever of the year’”.

The award was presented and given to him by the late Lady Diana, a day he will never forget: 

“It was quite a big achievement getting a university degree despite being deaf”. 

Andy later went on to have a 30-year career as a chartered Engineer in the brewing industry and latterly working for Heineken UK and this is where he first learned about the Human Library. He became a reader through work and after that he volunteered to become a book.

“Being deaf has its moments of frustration but for me, it has always been about your ability and not your disability”.

An Open Book about Anxiety and Depression

Bernadette’s story as a Book at the Human Library highlights her experience with anxiety and depression after being subject to bullying, 

“I was bullied at work by someone who was working for me”. 

Bernadette was working in HR and found herself in a difficult position, “so when working in Human Resources, where can you go to if you are being bullied?”. 

The bullying went on for two years and had a severe impact on her mental health. Upon returning after a holiday, she found herself trembling with fear at the thought of getting back into the office: 

“On my drive there my foot was on the brake and I was shaking”. She went into the office anyway but quickly became unwell, “I just said I think I’ve got jetlag, I am going home, I don’t feel well, which was all a lie”, she recalls.

 After coming home, she rang up the doctors and they wanted to see her straight away, “that threw me off because I wasn’t expecting that”, she adds “So, I went to the doctors and cried and got signed off for a month. I was able to get support very quickly and spent 6 months as a day patient where I had therapy sessions”. 

Despite her efforts to return to work, the bullying persisted, this time by a new perpetrator. Bernadette ended up taking a year off, seeking therapy and medication to help with her struggles. 

The Human Library Experience

Before being published as a Book, Andy first became a Reader multiple times: “I work for Heineken and they were quite supportive of the Human Library, so I got to read a number of Books at different events, and I would come home and tell Bernadette all about it and about some of the Books that I read”. 

Bernadette had been doing some work for Stockport Libraries on mental health and her own story with it. Then Stockport Library wanted to host a Human Library and was in need of Books to publish, “so I said come on, Andy, you know this” Bernadette says. 

Publishing Locally

They arrived at the Book training expecting it to be a local version of the Human Library but quickly found that it was the real deal. Andy even recognised a Book that he had the pleasure of reading at one of the events through work.

In total, 8 Books were published at Stockport Library that day. “While we were waiting to be taken out by readers, we were reading each other’s stories and it was just a really joyous, positive and gorgeous day. We loved it, didn’t we?” Bernadette says as she looks at Andy. “Yeah, it was lovely to be in a room full of different storybooks and have the experience of listening to each other’s stories and becoming friends effectively through that”.

We Forgot How to Talk to Each Other

They both agree that the Human Library is an effective tool for challenging stigmas and fostering meaningful conversations.  “It’s amazing how easily it can break down barriers quite quickly because it allows you to have a discussion about something and you also learn how to talk to people. I think we have forgotten how to.” Andy says and Bernadette adds, “I always say the conversations that you should be having are the ones you avoid and what the Human Library does, is that it creates that safe space where you can ask everything and you can make mistakes and that is OK. If you reduce the fear you automatically increase your confidence.”

Sharing Stories

Being married for 23 years has not always been a walk in the library, “we’ve had our struggles but we ploughed on and supported each other through grief, losing our parents and we just try to be open. Sometimes I quite happily want to run away”, Bernadette says with a smile, “but that is what marriage is about, it has its ups and downs, and our Books and topics are who we are. Ultimately, we just talk. When you are bringing up a family and consumed by chores and routine meaningful conversation can be forgotten because you’re so tired and just want to switch off”. 

Being published as a Book has been a unique experience for both of them. Participating in the Human Library event has allowed them to challenge their own stereotypes and judgements of others. They found that the experience of being Books and being published has helped them to connect on a deeper level, both with each other and with other Readers. 

“For me, I think this has allowed us to share a bit more with the family”, Andy says and continues “it makes you think differently and it does make you challenge your stereotypes when you meet someone who whether it is a disability or something hidden that you would not notice, it does challenge your judgement of people”. 

Read our previous Book of the Month article about Daniel who sees his wheelchair as anything but a limitation.

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As 2022 is coming to a close, we look back at a year of hosting Human Libraries all around the world. This year we managed to reach Readers with learning opportunities on all six continents. 

It is a remarkable achievement that confirms the importance of meaningful conversations about our diversity on a global scale. Our library has brought people together from all walks of life and allowed Readers and Books to connect, learn and perhaps unjudge someone. 

As the Human Library continues to grow, we are committed to providing safe spaces for difficult conversations. We encourage everyone to take part in these opportunities to learn, and perhaps find meaningful connections with others. 

As always the services of the Human Library are free to our Readers and you can find all of our events right here.

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More people than ever before have joined the bookshelf of the Human Library. In total 437 new Books have been trained, edited and published at events in 2022.  

It is a feat in itself to be able to add over 400 new editions and it speaks volumes to the growing interest for the Human Library from Books and Readers around the world. 

New Content from 22 Nations

This year we are fortunate to have been able to welcome new Books from 22 different countries. Adding more opportunity and more diversity to our local Book Depots. The new Books have joined us from Australia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Greater Diversity in Content

As the Human Library continues to grow, we are excited to continue to expand the range of topics that we can offer our Readers. From individuals who have experienced homelessness to refugees, survivors of domestic abuse to people with Bipolar disorder, our Books offer a unique opportunity for Readers to engage with people from many different walks of life.

If you are thinking about becoming an Open Book for the Human Library then please visit this page for more information.

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Fall in the Reading Garden

It’s a cold day in October when books and librarians meet up in the Reading Garden for the last time in 2022. The trees have started wearing their orange and brown colored coats, while dark grey blankets and cushions are being laid out on the garden’s benches.

“The end of the season is wistful, but comes with a huge sense of pride, both for the volunteers, but also for me.”, says Fanny Timmermann, who has been the lead coordinator for the Reading Garden this season. “For me as the Reading Garden coordinator, every other Sunday has been a day that I looked forward to, especially the diverse conversations with the books, but also with readers.”

Librarians Fanny Timmerman and Azlina Azmeir

The Human Library’s books have been loaned 562 times this season. That number is beyond all expectations and has made a big impression. “This season in the Reading Garden has been impressive and educational. The amount of readers has been impressive for me personally, but also for our books and librarians.” says Fanny Timmermann, “There have been so many things that made an impression on me, for example, the fact that there have been repeat readers throughout the season, who knew who they had read before, and who they wanted to read on the day.”

The bells of Saint Johannes Church across the street chime at 12 pm, and the first few readers start showing up at the counter. There are nine titles to choose from today, including schizophrenia, victim of incest, homeless, post-partum depression, psychic healer, and immigrant. It is soon evident that it is not just Danish readers who have shown up today. “It’s been remarkable how many different nationalities and languages the Reading Garden has seen this year.” the coordinator says, “But mostly, it’s been great to hear the books listing off countries from every continent when they’ve told us about their readings.”

Despite the Danish autumn weather, readers show up at the counter throughout the afternoon; They’ve heard that this is their last chance. “Several of the readers already want to know when we are opening up next season.” tells one of the librarians.

The Reading Garden is set to reopen in the spring of 2023, where there will be ample opportunity for loaning Human Books – Next season, the Garden will be open every Sunday.

And Fanny Timmermann has a piece of advice for next season’s readers: “Some titles can seem tough, and maybe too tough, but if there is just a little bit of curiosity, then pick that book. And if you think you already know everything about a topic, then pick that book anyway – They will most likely tell you something you didn’t know before.”

See when the next Human Library is.

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From Paris to Amsterdam to Borrow an Open Book

Orestis Christoforides reading an Open Book at Café Amstel Hoeck

With support from our friends at Heineken, the Human Library Book Cafe was open daily to readers at Café Amstel Hoeck. Three days in a row our Readers could borrow a Book while enjoying local drinks and dutch snacks. As always the services of the Human Library are free and so we registered more than 120 loans to readers. We were joined by Readers from Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Netherlands, Switzerland, USA, and Uruguay. One reader traveled from Paris in order to experience the Human Library:

“I traveled to Amsterdam specifically for the Human Library event as there were no events planned in France for the time being. I have been aware of the Human Library for some time after reading about it in the news. Being able to meet people who have such unique identities or are easily labeled or discriminated against seemed like a unique opportunity“, said Orestis Christoforides, who took a day off from work to become our reader. 

All Access to our Bookshelf

Our Book and their Reader at the Amstel Hoeck Café

In Amsterdam, our readers had a free choice of topics from our bookshelf and it was common that readers would borrow more than one book during their visit.“Time flew and I ended up staying for 5 hours and reading 5 different books”, said Orestis Christoforides about his experience. 

Among the topics, readers could choose from were Bisexual, Holocaust Survivor, Self Harm, Bipolar, Victim of Abuse, Victim of Stalking, Muslim, Transgender, and Body Modified to name but a few and as always our Librarians encouraged our Readers to be brave and curious when asking their questions: “Reading a human book is a fantastic experience. We are encouraged to ask very direct questions, so the conversations were incredibly open and comfortable. What pushed you to see a therapist? Have you done time? Do you have any prejudices of your own?”, says Orestis Christoforides. 

Here is what some of our Readers had to say:

There is also room for smiles in serious conversations

“It was really awesome to hear someone else’s experience that is so different from my own, and I felt super comfortable asking questions, which was lovely! Thank you!!”

“I think I’m just amazed at how much courage and openness it takes to tell strangers your stories and I’m grateful that the Human Library exists.”

“My conversation with a transgender person was a beautiful philosophical exploration with many great insights: like there is no truth, don’t make assumptions on how people behave.”

“There was a lot more going on behind the title. The books exposed their own human limitations and weaknesses very honestly, which is what I ended up relating to. I can say I returned from my short journey with the impression of having made friends and  feeling more capable at “unjudging” others, even people which I disagree with (or even dislike!)”

A thank you to our partners from Heineken for making it possible for us to contribute to the Amsterdam Pride Week program.

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