Human Library comes to life March 15 at UFV

UFV’s Human Library will come to life on Wed, March 15 at the Chilliwack campus atrium.

Staff members at the UFV Chilliwack campus library have been busy collecting “human books” and they will be on hand to interact with students and the public in a speed-dating format from 10 am to 1 pm.

“Our mission is to present unique experiences that challenge peoples’ understanding of stereotypes and educate people on diversity,” says Lisa Morry, a UFV library technician and part of the committee planning the project. “The topics presented or the people involved have some connection to UFV and its objectives.

“We have human books from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds, including Sufism and Buddhism, people willing to talk about their mental health journey and their sexuality, scientists and professors, and successful entrepreneurs.”

UFV’s human books include science communicator Carin Bondar; Buddhist nun Sister Jessie; aboriginal role models Shirley Hardman and Elaine Malloway; Sufist and UFV professor Sandy Hill; firefighter Lisa Axelson; UFV staff member and person who left an arranged marriage Kulwant Gill; physical educator Joanna Sheppard; mental health advocate Adria Roberts; and queer artist Christina Billingham.

To see biographies of the human books go here: http://www.ufv.ca/library/exhibits–events/human-library-display-and-event/

To register as a Human Library reader, please call the Chilliwack library at 604-795-2824.