‘Books’ Talk at SHU’s First ‘Human Library’ Event

Volunteers take on role of books, and their words spark conversations that combat stereotypes and stigmas

A popular metaphor tells people not to judge a book by its cover. Sacred Heart University recently hosted its first official Human Library event to help individuals look beyond another’s exterior to begin to dismantle stereotypes and preconceived judgments.

A Human Library is an event in which volunteers act as books, and other participants play the role of readers. The University is a publishing partner of the Human Library national organization. The people acting as books represent a stigmatized group in the community, and they share the stories of their personal experiences. They then engage in conversation and answer questions from the readers to help challenge what is being said or understood about a given topic.

The SHU event took place at the beginning of December, and five people took on the role of books to engage with the participating readers in open and personal discussions. The Human Library organization uses the tagline “unjudge someone” to explain its goal in promoting these events.

Kyle Humphreys, associate director of LGBTQ+ affairs at Sacred Heart University, organized SHU’s Human Library. “I’ve wanted to bring this to Sacred Heart for more than a year now,” he said. “What the Human Library aims to do is so valuable to our community and the University’s mission toward inclusive excellence. For us to love our neighbor and include others, we need to be reminded of our shared humanity and dignity. We are more than our differences, as much as they define our lives.”

Maxwell Johnson ’28, an English major, played the part of a book during the event. “Thanks to Kyle and the office for inclusive excellence, my experience with the Human Library was very eye-opening and enlightening, even as a book,” he said. “I enjoyed the time I spent with my readers. I had two group readings, and the experiences were very heartwarming. They asked great questions, and everyone made me feel very comfortable. They genuinely wanted to get to know someone of my identity and my life, on and off campus. As a transgender man on campus, I found deep comfort after taking part in the Human Library.”

Psychology major Gabriela Zovko ’27 attended the event as a reader. She said there were no distractions, making the story the main focus. “I loved how we were given the ability to ask questions freely, allowing for respect between both the ‘book’ and the people reading the ‘book.’ I also loved how safe the space felt,” she said.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” she added. “If we give others space to tell their stories, which we might not know about or hear about every day, we can better understand and hopefully communicate more with people in the future.”

Talia Torrens ’27, a psychology major in the 4+2 dual degree clinical mental health program, gained a new outlook as a reader. “I felt like I walked away with a different perspective, challenging personal misconceptions and learning how to be a more effective ally,” she said. “In reflecting on this event with some of my peers, we talked about how eye-opening this was for us and how we would love for this to be incorporated more into the learning experience.”

Maurice Nelson, chief diversity and inclusion officer at Sacred Heart, said the event aligns with the University’s mission and core values. “The Human Library is a powerful testament to our commitment to fostering an inclusive and compassionate campus community,” he said. “By providing a platform for students, faculty and staff to share their lived experiences, this event embraces the concept of counter-storytelling—uplifting voices and perspectives that challenge dominant narratives and expose the realities of bias and discrimination.

“Through these courageous conversations, we create a brave space where assumptions are dismantled, empathy is deepened and dialogue leads to understanding,” Nelson continued. “This initiative reflects our desire to promote equity, unity and a culture where everyone is seen, heard and valued.”

The Human Library is a licensed event from the Human Library organization located in its birthplace of Copenhagen, Denmark. Established in 2000, it has grown to facilitate dialogues in more than 80 countries on six continents.