A Human Library… Every Book Its Reader Janet Kaufman & Randy Oldham University of Guelph Library
A Human Library… Every Book Its Reader Janet Kaufman & Randy Oldham University of Guelph Library.
Jan 15, 2016
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A Human Library…Every Book Its Reader
Janet Kaufman & Randy OldhamUniversity of Guelph Library
What is the Human Library?
Initiative which began in Copenhagen in 2000
“The Human Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding. The main characteristics of the project are to be found in its simplicity and positive approach.”
A Human Library is essentially a catalogue of living books
“Living books” are people just like us, but…
for different reasons they are subjected to stereotyping and prejudices
they are open about who they are they are prepared to share their
experiences they are volunteers they are courageous
Living Books…
Why Hold a Human Library?
Inquiry Freedom of expression Diversity Safe place Outreach Media attention and accolades
Guelph’s Human Library
2 day event ‘books’ borrowed for 30 minutes 35 books this year with over 350 available
appointments: Funny, You Don’t Look Crazy Atheist Don’t Call Me Faggot Dykes n Tykes: A Tale of Lesbian
Motherhood HIV Positive Canadian Soldier
Hurdles
Determining book topics How to recruit live book volunteers A scheduling/booking system for the books
atomicity
Volunteer Book Form
Requirements: Name/email address Book title/description Send to an email address for processing
Solution: Coldfusion submission form CF server handles the emailing in the back
end; overcomes the “emailing problem” CAPTCHA to help prevent spam…
Volunteer Book Form
Volunteer Book Form – On the Cheap…
Don’t know how to code? NO PROBLEM! Survey Monkey Poledaddy.com
Reader Registration
Requirements: Must handle varying availabilities for each
“book” Email reminders prior to booking Simple to use Must permit registration of non uog-affiliated
patronsSolution: 2009: embedded Google calendar
29 Books = 29 Calendars
Calendar Settings
Calendar settings
Make calendar “public”
Embed…
Calendar Settings
Calendar Settings
Make calendar “public”*
Embed…
* Care taken with changing FREE to BOOKED not to include names of readers
Calendar Settings
Calendar Settings
Make calendar “public”
Embed…
Calendar Settings <iframe src="http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?
src=0kei9i86r91car9lrj4ph00j4s%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Toronto" style="border: 0" width="800" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
Take this bit of code and paste it into any .html document between the <body> tags and VIOLA!
*bri*
How we could improve…
Manually updated by staff
Huge admin overhead
Not user-friendly OR dynamic (manual updates by staff)
spcbrass
Reader Registration
2010 Solution: REG, by U of G Student Affairs
Used by many departments on campusStudents familiar with servicePermits non-affiliate registration & bookingPermits varying availability per book/eventAutomated email when registeringPermits “WAIT LISTS”Reminder email 24 hours prior to ‘event’Withdrawn books – REG makes easy
“Catalogue” and Links to REG
The Public side of REG…
REG Admin View
Each book @ each time slot is an EVENT…
Each event is restricted to 1 registrant…
We can also see WL, W and email history
Got no REG?
REG: Coldfusion home grown web app
No REG, NO PROBLEM!! Open Conference System – for reader registration Eventbrite – for reader registration Eventsbot – for reader registration
Drupal Modules: WEBFORM – for book solicitation Event – for reader registration
IT Success
This year: 35 “Books” 350 individual 30 minute sessions 10,500 minutes of pure, unadulterated Human
Library goodness 15 volunteers
‘Librarians’ Organizers Web guy Developer (MATTIE)
Over 300 “readers” All supported by REG!
Evaluation
Books Readers
good/very good experience 100%
100% of readers were rated as very sincere, quite/very courteous
30% wanted longer appointments
100% would return
99% enjoyed or extremely enjoyed
99% liked or loved topics
only 2 respondents said they learned nothing new
Front Page – Above the Fold and…
Centrefold
Lots of Media Coverage
local cable tv and Kitchener CTV news one of our books interviewed for a BBC radio feature http
://www.theontarion.com/2010/03/reading-the-voices-of-the-human-library/
http://www.theontarion.com/2010/04/newsmaker-of-the-year/ http://www.uoguelph.ca/news/2010/02/human_library_r.html http://humanlibrary.org/living-library-google-map.html http://www.westerngazette.ca/2010/03/10/human-library-event-tackles-
stereotypes/
http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2010/03/05/library-of-humans/ http://www.uoguelph.ca/atguelph/10-02-24/news.shtml http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article243628.ece
- Video clip VIMEO
Questions & Discussion
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