Check out a Human

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Type of Pilot Project: 
Public Service
Describe Project and Impact: 
Check out a human to facilitate interaction, sharing and understanding between diverse individuals to encourage tolerance, empathy and understanding.
Project Description and Expected Outcomes: 
Projects of this kind originated in Copenhagen to break down prejudices through one-on-one conversations. Use a library card to check out a human book and learn about their unique experience in the world. http://www.yongestreetmedia.ca/features/humanbooks1208.aspx This might encourage members of the community who feel "different" in our county to openly express themselves and possibly be better understood.
Why should we select this project?: 
It has been highly successful in other library systems, and would increase the value of the library card by giving members connections to each other and to different thoughts, ideas, and ways of life in a non-threatening environment. This is an opportunity to make libraries a community hub, and make people smarter with one person at a time interactions.
Constraints, Limitations, or Dependencies: 
Finding the best people to check out - those that have experiences outside the norm who are willing to be transparent in sharing.
Source of Inspiration: 
Partner/Supporting Departments: 
Development/Volunteer Services
Human Resources
Marketing
Public Services
Performance Indicators: 
Market Penetration
Member Retention
Environment: 
Library
Experience: 
InterReach
Estimated Costs
Personnel: 
$0
Commodities: 
$0
Contractual (Professional Services): 
$0
Capital (Construction/Renovations): 
$0
Total: 
$0.00

Comments

24
joshua.caudill
So Important
This is such an important goal, and it has worked so well in libraries before that I think it's a wonderful idea to implement. Are you thinking we'd just canvas for volunteers for this project? How do you think we could best gather individuals to participate?
laura.sikes
Heidi, I love the Human
Heidi, I love the Human Library project. I think there is a lot of interest in doing something like this locally, and I would love to be a part of planning and executing it.
vicki.thompson
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david.newyear
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laura.sikes
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david.newyear
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kdelaney
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heather.zeoli
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afischer
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ben.mead-harvey
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ckennedy
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llovely
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drobertus
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jbrooks
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jballou
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christopher.stofel
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asuhrstedt
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rachel.kopchick
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mattalla
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jessica.gonzalez
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ebedford
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tpodzemny
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ashley.welke
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meg.hunt
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