On Tuesday, April 18, from 1-3pm, CSN is hosting a unique event at the North Las Vegas Campus June Whitley Lounge, where students have the opportunity to learn about lives outside their own simply by checking out a “book”. But what makes this checkout a little different is that it’s coming from a “Human Library,” and the “books” are actually people willing to share their stories, answer difficult questions, and have real conversations during their loan period of 10 minutes.

The idea of the Human Library came about in the year 2000 by the Danish Youth Organization “Stop the Violence.” CSN hosted its first Human Library last year and received such positive feedback that they decided to bring it back! Sponsored by the Queer Inclusive College Committee (QICC) and the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA), the event exists to “challenge stereotypes and prejudices and to help people better understand those with whom they share their communities,” according to the Human Library event booklet.

If you would like to participate and check out a Human Book, be sure to follow these important rules:

1. The Reader must be respectful in their questions and conversations with the Human Book.

2. The Reader accepts the fact that the Human Book can quit the conversation if he or she feels that the Reader is treating him or her in an inappropriate or disrespectful manner.

3. The loan period is for 10 minutes. You may only borrow one book at a time, however, loans can be extended with the agreement of both the Book and the person working at the counter.

4. The Reader cannot record, videotape, or take pictures of the Human Book without their consent.

5. You can check out as many Books as you’d like! Just make sure to return to the checkout table for each new Book.

For more information, contact Tavish.Bell@csn.edu or Robyn.Rohde@csn.edu

For more information about the Human Library movement, visit www.humanlibrary.org