You can’t judge a book by its cover. And in the case of the Launceston Human Library, every book has a unique story to tell.
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For the past 10 years the program has been sharing the tales of people from the community as if they were an open book.
The concept is simple, according to City of Launceston community development and safety officer Nathalie Servant.
Get people to tell their stories and chapter by chapter, the barriers of prejudice will gradually breakdown.
A council initiative, Ms Servant was responsible for bringing the Human Library program to Launceston in May 2008.
Since then, more than 70 people or ‘human books’ have taken part – sharing their stories and engaging with people and helping to break down stereotypes.
A first for Tasmania, Ms Servant said the Human Library was a program that originated in Denmark, based on an internationally accepted methodology.
Its main aims include raising awareness through a constructive dialogue, encouraging mutual understanding and acceptance and celebrating human diversity.
Ms Servant said the program was a preventative approach to ensuring greater harmony within the community.
“It got started, for me, as a part of community safety,” she said.
“I was employed as community safety officer at council and it seemed to be that safety was not just about negative, criminal antisocial behaviour.
“It is also about being proactive and living in a nice neighborhood, with nice people.
“We wanted to support something that was positive and that is where the Human Library came in.”
With volunteer base of about 10 ‘librarians’ helping to facilitate monthly events, it is estimated more than 2500 ‘readers’ – or members of the public – have engaged with in the program since its inception.
The human books make regular appearances at local colleges at TAFE campuses, as well as community events including Harvest Market, Festivale and the Tamar Valley Peace Festival.
In the past 10 years the topics covered have been as diverse as the people telling the stories.
From a woman dealing with the death of her son and his decision to be an organ donor, to a young man coming to terms with his sexuality and living with HIV.
Ms Servant said there was never a shortage of stories to be told.
“When we started it, Launceston had always been a safe and happy community compared to bigger cities,” she said.
“For me it was the right time to be proactive and set up something that would enhance the chances to grow into a happy and harmonious community.”
“We mostly do have to go to people and ask if they want to be part of the program, but we have always focused on the content,” Ms Servant said.
“We can look at the different areas of discrimination and stereotypes, from gender, culture, socio-economic, age – we see it all.
“And when things happen in the community, it gives us new ideas of who else to bring in for things we haven’t yet addressed.”
One person who has been involved with the Human Library since the beginning is Gunter Breier of Norwood.
Mr Breier has shared two stories as a human book.
The first, the tale of his journey to Tasmania from West Berlin in 1952.
At the time he was just 17 years old and Tasmania seemed like a “world away” from post World War II Germany.
Taking up a job at Hydro, he has been here ever since and said he is proud to have made Tasmania his home.
Mr Breier’s second story introduces his assistance dog Wizzard.
About 17 years ago Mr Breier began to lose his vision and through his human book, he tells the story of adjusting to life without his sight.
Aside from creating a sense of purpose for him, Mr Breier said the program had lead him to develop some “wonderful friendships” with his fellow books.
“The people that you meet and the stories they tell, it is just excellent,” he said.
“It has given me contact with lots of other people. I particularly enjoying talking with students at the colleges.
“People, especially the girls, are always very interested especially when they see Wizzard. Losing my vision was a gradual process and my life has changed a lot.
“But they say when one door shuts, another one opens. I truly believe that to be true.”
On Wednesday the Launceston Human Library will celebrate its 10 year anniversary with a civic function at Town Hall.
Ms Servant said the event was a way of saying thank you to everybody that had contributed to the program over the past decade.
“We thought we would stop, we would thank the people who are engaged with the program and we would thank the books who have participated and the organisations that have supported it,” she said.
“We want to recognise the council’s participation, because it’s not necessarily a direct fit between local government and this type of program.
“Quite often we are dealing with roads, rubbish and rates and the people don’t see us as having a role in there. This way we can make some ripples in our community.
“It gives us the opportunity to talk about discrimination. We can all be a part of that.”
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
