Library Announces Compelling Collection for Toronto's First Human Library
Event

Lineup includes bullied gay youth, ex-gang members & former prostitute

TORONTO, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - The much anticipated "human book" collection has been unveiled for Toronto Public Library's first Human Library, an opportunity for Torontonians to walk in someone else's shoes for a few minutes and see beyond labels and begin to celebrate differences.

The collection includes books on timely, provocative and passionate subjects such as:

• Former sex trade worker turned writer and businessman
• Gay youth who can speak to the impact of bullying
• Former politician from Rwanda who fled persecution
• Soldiers, including one who served two tours of duty in Iraq
• A once illiterate, gang member who became a doctor working with at-risk youth.
• And many more…(see Great Reads list at the end of the media release)

"Toronto's diversity makes it a perfect location for a Human Library," said city librarian Jane Pyper. "We all have a tendency to know what we know and be with who we are familiar with. This is an opportunity to cross that boundary and be with someone who has a different lived experience."

Scheduled in five branches on November 6, this new pilot program will allow library cardholders to borrow from a selection of nearly 60 human books, individuals who have been carefully selected because of their unique life experiences. Through positive, personal dialogue, the program is focused on encouraging new ideas and ways of thinking, to celebrate differences and promote tolerance.

"Living Libraries" were first launched in Copenhagen in the early 1990s to combat prejudice and raise awareness through one-on-one dialogue. Countries all over the world now hold human libraries and some public libraries even have permanent collections.

This one-day pilot event on Saturday, November 6 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. will take place simultaneously at five branches across the city:

• Toronto Reference Library (Yonge and Bloor)
• North York Central Library (North of Yonge and Sheppard)
• Bloor Gladstone Branch (Bloor and Dufferin)
• Lillian H. Smith Branch (College and Spadina)
• Malvern Branch (Sheppard and Nielson)

Library cardholders will be able to begin placing holds on their chosen human books beginning October 23. To learn more about the Human Library and how to participate in the program, please call 416-393-7131 or visit torontopubliclibrary.ca/human-library

Toronto Public Library is the world's busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 17.5 million people visit our 99 branches and borrow more than 31 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.

A Sampling of Toronto Public Library's 2010 Human Book Great Reads Collection

Dr. Anthony Hutchison
"At the age of 15, in 1983, I put down my two guns and my gang colours for a guitar. The resources to help me put my life back on track mainly came from a local community public library."

Triangle Program graduate Rosa Brooks
As a gay teen, Rosa was no stranger to the tragic bullying we've been hearing more and more about in the news, but an innovative TDSB helped to provide her with a safer, homophobia-free place to learn.

Journalist Barbara Turnbull (and her service dog Bella)
"Disability, particularly a severe disability, definitely makes a major part of the population look at me in certain ways. Condescending at times, just plain awkward, others.  I must dip into my font of defiance regularly just to exist, or be treated, in our society as an autonomous adult."

Anti-poverty activist Michael Creek, who was homeless
"I am hoping that someone will come into the library who has a bad opinion of someone who is poor and I will be able to change their mind about what it really means to live in poverty and why it's really difficult for people to move on."

Tibetan Buddhist Monk Tenzin Kalsang
"Our main purpose of life in the 21^st century is to be spiritual, modern and educated, transform our modern world to love, and give kindness and great respect to all and to our mother Earth."

Raging Granny Phyllis Creighton
One of a series, this human book is the last active original member of the Toronto Raging Grannies, an organization of seasoned female social justice activists who can be found singing political satire at rallies and protests.

L'Arche Toronto worker April MacConnell and Chris Butler
April MacConnell met Chris Butler, a young man with Down syndrome, when she began working at L'Arche Toronto, an organization that fosters a sense of community for people with developmental disabilities. Find out how their relationship has enriched both their lives.

HIV/AIDS survivor and activist Kyle Vose
"With the stigma still attached to HIV, many people don't want to talk about this disease until it affects them in their own personal life. I'd rather your conscious mind be infected with information about HIV, than for you to be infected with HIV."

For further information:

Media Contact:
Anne Marie Aikins, Manager, Corporate Communications, 416-393-7212
[email protected]