A living library. Each person is a book telling their individual story, history and struggles. You get 20 minutes to listen, chat, question.
Story is used directly as a means to learn and grow.
The Living Library at Belfast City Hall was part of Good Relations Week 2019 – a series of events in September around peace building and good community relations.
The Living Library allows you to borrow a person rather than a book. You sit with the person – a living book. Who are all from Northern Ireland. And where that conversation goes is unscripted. The idea is to listen, interact and challenge. More than anything it’s about learning through story telling.
On this particular day there were 14 books from different community, faith and political backgrounds. All with vastly different life experiences.
Attending the event were a cross-community group who had borrowed several books. Margaret Lagan and Geraldine O’Rourke had both very different experiences of the same book.
You only hear so much on TV and the news,” Margaret said. “When you’re speaking in person, you get to the truth. I asked some difficult questions.”
But Geraldine said:
I was asked if I wanted to listen or if I wanted to speak. I spoke. And I shared so much of my life. It felt good to be able to do that.”
The cross-community group were in discussion during an interlude, speaking about each of their experiences. Key topic: why someone from outside Northern Ireland would come here to make their home – and how their struggle was important, that it had shaped them and should never be hidden away.
I heard about learning to build small bridges,” Grace Davin explained. “Trying to get a balance and building bridges within our own community.”
“The books take you to places you wouldn’t normally ever get to,” Adrian Hughes added. “Just to listen to their stories, to hear the struggles they’ve come through to be part of our society.
I wouldn’t have thought there were so many different cultures here in Northern Ireland,” Grace continued. “I didn’t realise until I came here today. Each person considers Northern Ireland their home, and it enriches our whole way of life.”
The Living Library Event was organised by Belfast City Council as an opportunity for people to engage in a novel way.
The living library is an excellent opportunity for people to engage in a conversation with someone that they may never have had an opportunity to meet, or someone that comes from a different community background. It is a great space for promoting contact between individuals and enabling people to challenge their own perceptions and stereotypes through conversation.”
Leish Dolan, Good Relations Unit, Belfast City Council
Further Information
The Community Relations Council organises events each year for Good Relations Week. Learn more about funding opportunities with the Community Relations Council.