The Human Library: Building Connections Through Storytelling: The Human Library is a lot of things: a participatory event, a global movement, a storytelling program, and—most importantly—a powerful event that connects people. Currently, in the pandemic, most Human Library events have moved online. However, no matter how the Human Library is presented, it still has the power to change lives through stories. Even though the Human Library was created twenty years ago, the event is more important now than it has ever been before. This event allows people with different backgrounds, opinions, and more to come together and share their stories in a safe space. In this director’s brief, I inform the Director of the Ramapo Catskill Public Library of the Human Library’s origins, global impact, and positive and negative aspects to potentially implement an ongoing Human Library service.

Jeanna Michel lives and works on a farm in New York. Her book blog, created in 2010, showcases reviews and author interviews. She has a BA in English and Communication Arts from State University of New York at Oneonta. After studying abroad, she returned to South Korea to teach near the northern border. Jeanna also was an editorial intern at The Book Report Network and a marketing intern at W.W. Norton & Company. Currently, she is pursuing a MLIS from San José State University.