Human library: Tales from the past - First Nations Australians

"Aboriginal flag mural, Eveleigh Street Redfern, circa 2003" by Patricia Baillie, collection owned and licensed by City of Sydney Archives is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

As part of NAIDOC Week, Azure beach library will be hosting a human library event, featuring several Indigenous elders from the local area who will be sharing their stories and history. This event aims to create an environment for open discussion and dialogue; as storytelling is an integral part of Indigenous culture. Attendees will gain a further understanding of the history of Australia and Indigenous culture, and participants will feel seen, heard, and understood; having been  able to share both their past traumas and their pride in this setting. 

Australia has a complicated history with its Indigenous population, the rightful owners of this land. Many Australians are aware of the history of the land, but not the ongoing and profound impact it has had on First Nations Australians. 

By providing the space and opportunity to ask questions and share stories, we can help to strengthen bonds and connections within our community, provide a deeper understanding of Indigenous history and culture; and figure out how to better help the traditional custodians of this land.

What is a human library?

A human library is an opportunity for learning and growth; where members of the community can volunteer to become "books"; sharing their life stories by being "borrowed" for a conversation by attendees, creating an environment of open discussion that encourages diversity and learning, and aims to remove stigma and prejudice.

Event details

When: 12th of July, 2025

Where: Azure Beach Public Library courtyard

Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm

Price: Free

Note: To register for this event, you must be a library member. Click here to go to our website and sign up now! Registration is completely free, and gives you access to a world of opportunities!

Questions and enquiries

More information on human libraries can be found here

More information on NAIDOC Week can be found here

For further information, contact the library on (02) 9123 4567 or at library.contactus@azurebeach.gov.au

Post by Erika Hutchings

Unity From Diversity - Let's Bridge Worlds For Australia Day

Image created in Canva

Australia Day serves as a celebration of our nation's vibrant diversity. There is power in forming unity from this diversity, since we all collectively contribute a wealth of knowledge, culture, and prosperity to Australia.

We invite everyone to join us before Australia Day in a special human library event, where we will bridge your world to another through the stories shared by 4 diverse living 'books'. 

These 'books' are:

Larry A Gumbaynggirr elder, whose story speaks to First Nations' enduring connection to the land and Australia's complex history.

Image from Adam Jones

Aisha A refugee from Syria, whose story highlights resilience and hope for those seeking sanctuary in Australia.

Image from UN Women Europe and Central Asia

Sally A second-generation Chinese Australian, whose story demonstrates the impact of generational changes in Australia.

Image from Ai Yah

Edmund An immigrant from the United Kingdom, whose story brings up experiences shaped by migration and adaptation.

Image from Travis Nep Smith

With this event, you can choose one of the above 'books' for a 30-minute session where they will share their story. To register, please do one of the following by 11th January 2025:

• Click HERE for the online registration form
• Send an email to hello@azurebeachpubliclibrary.gov.au
• Call us on (02) 9717 ####
• Speak with a staff member at Azure Beach Public Library

Date: Saturday 25th January 2025

Time: 11am to 1pm

Location: Azure Beach Public Library

Cost: FREE

A complimentary multicultural morning tea will also be served during this event!

Only 16 sessions (4 for each 'book') are available, so be sure to register as soon as possible for a better chance to converse with your desired 'book'.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Any children 12 years or under attending the event will need to be accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian.

For more information about what Australia Day is all about, click HERE.

Is this the first time you have come across a human library event? Click HERE to find out more about how these events work.

For a translation of this event information in your preferred language, click HERE.

We look forward to seeing you at this event!

 Native Wisdom

To understand the past is to build a better future.

 

 Photo by Steve Evans

 

 

While the government and the public have made strides in apologising and giving back to the indigenous people of Australia, socially they still suffer from prejudice and stereotyping.

What do you know about the original owners of the land?

as Azure Library's part in NAIDOC week, "Native Wisdom" is a Human Library event featuring 4 indigenous "books" to read. You are invited to come and learn more about aboriginal culture, customs and history. 

Whether you are aboriginal yourself and wanting to connect to that side of you, or you simply want to know more about Aboriginal culture, you are invited to attend!

"Borrow" 1 of 4 "books" and delve into their life story, asking and learning about Aboriginal culture and history from a different perspective.

 

Event information

📅When:  7/07/2024 2:00pm - 4:00pm

🌏Where: Azure Beach Public Library

📕How to book: Events tab on Azure Beach Public Library website (here) 

 

 Don't know what a Human Library event is?

A Human Library event is an event where real people act as "books" for community members to have a safe dialogue and openly discuss topics and issues. This event acts as a safe place for representatives of particular groups to let others know about their perspective.

Yasuo Nakahara

CONNECT. COMMUNICATE. CULTIVATE

 

CONNECT with your wider community,

COMMUNICATE through open conversations,

CULTIVATE a border view of diversity and culture.

Azure Beach Public Library will be holding a Human Library event that will be held during Refugee Week. This event is designed to honour the multicultural community of Azure Beach and to provide a better understanding of the issues affecting refugees. 

What is a Human Library? 

A Human Library is designed to create conversation with human 'books' who come from stigmatised groups, subcultures or communities. You, the 'reader' will be able to borrow a book for up to 30 minutes and participate in an open conversation about their chosen topic. 

As Azure Beach is a Refugee Welcome Zone for people from Afghanistan, Iran and Syria we will have a refugee book representing each culture as well as an Aboriginal book.

Date: 25/06/2022

Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Azure Beach Public Library in the Azure Room

Book via the Azure Beach Library Website here

For more information about Refugee Week click here.

Author: Miah Ridolfi

Engage, Converse, Learn with Human Books

Event Details

Attribution: Howard County Library System from Flicker.
CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

• Date: 7 September 2022
• Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Venue: Azure Beach Library Main Branch, 12–18 Core Street, Azure Beach, NSW 2007
• Bookings and further details are available though Eventbrite via the link below:
• https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/azure-beach-living-library-256486302975

You've no doubt heard of usual paper books, after all they have existed for thousands of years. You may have been introduced to e-books and audiobooks. 

Behold an exciting new experience coming to Azure Beach Library, a Human Library.

You might be thinking at this moment, "what on earth is a human library?"

Let us briefly explain what it is, just to get you in the loop. Everyone has their own unique story to tell but they might not have the platform to. A human library solves that problem. A group of people which we call human books come in the to the library. There, YOU, yes you, can borrow the book, though you cannot take them home. They will tell you their story, feel free to ask questions, get to know each other. It's all part of human libraries.

For more information on human libraries, visit Human Library Australia via this link: https://www.humanlibraryaus.org/about.

Our theme for this human library event is indigenous literacy as this particular event is happening on Indigenous Literacy Day.

Here are some of the human books coming to the library:

Joan Amedius, Co-Founder of Indigenous Reading Equity Australia
Image attribution: Simon Fraser University from Flickr. CC BY 2.0

Teather Villams, Specialist in Indigenous literacy
Image attribution: Heather (Gruber) Williams from Flickr. CC BY 2.0

Beau Ghinghinda, Local Indigenous Elder
Image attribution: Eyesplash from Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

Made by and authorised by Warwick Senjak.

Your link to the past and gateway to the future - NAIDOC Week 2022

 

Your link to the past and gateway to the future

NAIDOC Week 2022

A Human Library event hosted by Azure Beach Library

Event Detail

Date: 3 July 2022

Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Azure Beach Library - Azure Room

Booking Information

Cost: Free booking (50 people limit)

Age: No age limit

Light refreshment will be provided.

Online: azurebeachlibraries.eventbrite.com

Phone: Contact Dominic Palmer at (02) 6771 8803 for more information.

What is a human library?

The Human Library is an event where people are loaned to readers for personal conservation. These people are volunteers and they are called 'books'. These 'books' have personal experiences and can answer questions from readers to challenge stereotypes and prejudice about a topic. The loan duration of a 'book' can last up to 30 minutes and there is an age limit where readers under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. The purpose of a Human Library is to challenge stereotypes and prejudice through conservation.

For further information please visit: https://www.humanlibraryaus.org/

This event will use the Human Library concept and NAIDOC Week to educate the community about Indigenous history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The 'books' will share their stories with the readers and this is an opportunity to spread their knowledge and experiences and allow the readers to understand their identity.

For further information please visit: 

https://www.naidoc.org.au/

Our Books are:

1. A community elder who will talk about Indigenous history and culture.

2. An Indigenous sports person who will talk about her achievements.

3. An Indigenous person from the Azure Beach Writers group who will tell his Indigenous stories that he has created while in the writers group.

4. A young Indigenous person who speaks about what she wants to see in the future for Indigenous people.

Richelle Sun