Check it out: Southeast to hold Human Library Project on Dec. 7

Imagine being able to go to a library and "check out" a person instead of a book.

It's a concept whose day has come at Southeast Missouri State University, which will hold a Human Library Project event from noon to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Kent Library.

Each human "book" will be checked out one person at a time, and there will be a hold list for people waiting to talk to a specific "book."

Joseph Taylor, a sophomore majoring in biology education, got the idea for the Human Library from a Facebook video one of his friends had shared about a similar program at the University of North Texas.

"I found the idea of people talking and getting to know each other on a personal basis inspiring," Taylor said.

To get the project going, Taylor approached Student Government Association president Peyton Mogley, who suggested he lead the effort.

The two met and talked about what the Human Library Project might look like, then pitched the idea to Kent Library's new dean, Barbara Glackin.

"Joseph's and Peyton's leadership of this project is impressive," Glackin said. "They are creating a safe space of what may be uncomfortable conversations that need to happen."

During the inaugural event, students will be invited to look over the available topics and titles of 12 volunteer "books," who will tell them about their unique experiences. Each book can be checked out for three to five minutes.

The topics will be diversity issues, except they will go beyond race, class or religion.

"I want to go one step further and encompass other things," Taylor said, such as what it's like to be homeless, blind, mentally ill, disabled or hearing-impaired.

In a way, he said, the project is the next generation of a program at Southeast last year in which students volunteered to man booths around campus with signs proclaiming "Ask a Muslim," "Ask a Caucasian," "Ask an African-American" and "Ask an LGBTQ."

"This is a very SEMO-type event," Taylor said.

At this stage in the planning process, Taylor and Mogley have recruited a few "books" they know personally but also are using Facebook and media coverage to reach potential volunteers.

Although choosing to answer certain questions will be up to the books themselves, Taylor said he wants people involved who are comfortable sharing about the obstacles they've faced and how those situations have affected them.

Taylor and Mogley still are deciding whether the sessions will be taped and archived for future use, although having some video footage to use for promotional purposes would be helpful.

"I want the students on campus to learn about one another," he said. "I want them to see each other as people."

If December's event is a success, it could become an annual or once-a-semester event and longer than 90 minutes.

To learn more or to volunteer as a book for the Human Library Project, visit facebook/semohumanlibrary.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.