Pack Creek Ranch, San Juan County, Utah
Light rain in the valley this morning and a light shawl of snow on the mountains. Spring flowers are undeterred.
LIVING LIBRARY
There’s a new library in Moab, Utah.
Actually, it’s an extension of the Grand County Library that opened only last week – inspired by conversations of the old guys in the GOMAT Fraternity mentioned in my previous post about opportunity.
In sharing their personal stories, the men realized how much they knew that nobody else knew – they were a living library. And as they toured Moab on the free bus, they noticed people on the streets that piqued both their interest and prejudices. Long-haired men, full-body tattoos, hippies, weirdos, brown-skinned foreigners – at least, that’s what they saw through their judging eyes.
They realized that they, too, had become stereotypes. Old men, no longer particularly worthy of respect or interest. When they sat on park benches, watching the world go by, nobody ever sat down to talk to them or ask them about their lives. Just like other worn-out members of the human zoo, they were judged from a distance as a category and dismissed as alien life.
They knew that if you waited for someone else to offer you what you needed, you would never get enough. But they had much to give. They had to take the initiative just as they had with the free bus.
In cooperation with the librarians, they organized an event where once a week their personal book of life would be listed on a blackboard at the library, and they could be checked out for half an hour for a question-and-answer experience with anyone interested.
Goofy idea, right? But it struck a chord with book lovers, and has not only been successful, but it has also drawn other volunteer books. And also, many book lovers who wanted an opportunity to check them out. Word gets around.
Last week, there were 21 books listed on the blackboard of the Human Library – two doctors, one law enforcement officer, three tattoo artists, a transgender person, a black man, a Vietnamese refugee, and a Navajo elder, among others. People willing to talk – to be checked out.
And there were more people who signed up to check out such a book than there were books available.
This is good news. About the best instincts of the human race to know more than the cover of the book.
Oh, come on, you say. This can’t be true. Is this real?
No, not in Moab.
Not yet.
But it could be, should be, and may be yet.
I truly hope so.
But it is true elsewhere in the world.
In 85 countries, actually.
It’s an international organization.
To learn the details, go to The Human Library on Wikipedia. Or too many YouTube videos about individual libraries.
There are three important elements in the success of Human Libraries.
The idea – one Danish man, with one inspiring idea.
Those willing to be the living book.
Those willing to check out the book.
There are those who look for the good, find it, and become part of it. People like you. Check your mirror.