A novel project at King’s University College is teaching faculty, staff and students about members of the university and local community who have experienced prejudice.
The Western affiliate is playing host to the Living Library Project on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cardinal Carter Library on the King’s campus.
A joint project of King’s Career Services and the Cardinal Carter Library, the Living Library event takes place during career week and is open to all students, staff and faculty.
The Library’s “books” are 20 members of the university and local community who have experienced prejudice because of who they are or what they do. Readers will be able to “sign out” one of the books for a conversation.
The aim is to raise awareness of occupational stereotypes and the career experiences of non-dominant groups within our community.
Held in conjunction with Career Week, the objectives are:
* to provide a forum for students to increase awareness of stereotypes and prejudice and their negative consequences, especially as it connects to occupation.
* to increase awareness of the career experiences of non-dominant groups
* to provide students from non-dominant groups an opportunity to see their concerns reflected in the “books”
* to make visible the diversity of the local community
* to create constructive interpersonal dialogue between people who would normally not have occasion to speak to each other.
In 2000, the first Living Library was held at a summer festival in Denmark with the purpose of breaking down barriers by providing groups of people who would normally not have the occasion to speak with one another with the opportunity to engage in open dialogue. The first Living Library in Ontario was held at University of Guelph earlier this year.
To browse the Living Library Catalogue visit www.kings.uwo.ca/living_library/
For more information, contact: Susan Ackland, Career Services, King’s University College, 519-433-3491 ext. 4496 sacklan@uwo.ca OR Meaghan Shannon, Information Services, Cardinal Carter Library, 519-433-3491 ext. 4498, mshanno@uwo.ca <!–[endif]–>