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!

ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE- an Indigenous Human Library Event

Always was, Always Will Be

An Indigenous Human Library

Hosted by the Azure Beach Library

In theme with NAIDOC week, The Azure Library is proud to host this years human library "Always Was, Always Will Be"- a chance to sit down and engage with Indigenous peoples and to open a discussion without our community.

Within Australia, the harrowing effects and of imperialism, and colonization inflicted on Aboriginal and Torres has been a harrowing stain on this countries history, and still remains a present issue. With recent re-assessments of Australia Day, and an ever growing interest in Indigenous Rights, "Always Was, Always" will be invites willing participants to engage in dialogue with indigenous people, and to better understand the current issues that effect them.

Our event will be hosted in the Azure Room, at 44 Lighting Way, Azure Beach NSW 2100, at 11am on the 7th of July.

For more information on Human Library Events Visit Here
For more information on Indigenous Peoples, Visit Here

For more information on events, Visit our official website or contact us at hello@azurebeachpubliclibrary.gov.au .
(02) 9717

Blog post by Max Mitchell

A World of Difference

Everybody belongs

Azure Beach is home to a wide range of diverse cultures, ranging from Syria to New Zealand. We are proud to embrace our multicultural city and what better way to celebrate that than by celebrating Harmony Week on Friday, 21 March 2025 through our very first Human Library event?

What is Harmony Week?

Harmony Week is celebrated in March and promotes the cultural diversity of Australia. It encourages us to embrace our differences and promotes inclusivity and respect for everyone. Orange ribbons are worn to commemorate the event and it is celebrated everywhere from school to the workplace! For more information about this special event, visit the official website here.

What is a Human Library?

A Human Library is an event where people are invited as human 'books,' to create a dialogue between themselves and their readers, or library patrons. Guests are encouraged to attend the event and speak with these books one-on-one. For more information about this, visit the official website here.

About our event:

During our event, patrons can borrow 4 different books to have a short conversation with. During these conversations, nothing is off limits, so patrons can have the opportunity to gain a new perspective on things and meet new people that they have never had the opportunity to meet.  Because we are celebrating Harmony Week with this event, we have invited books from a diverse range of cultures to share their stories. These include the Mother, the Refugee, the Student, and the Activist. So keep the 21st of March free. We hope to see you there!

NOTE: This is an age-restricted event. Only library patrons aged 18+ can attend

When: Friday 21 March, 2025

Time: 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Where: Library courtyard, Azure Beach Public Library

Cost: Nothing. The event is free!

Booking information: Click here to register for the event.

For further information, please contact us through here: (02) 9717 2729 or email us at hello@azurebeachpubliclibrary.gov.au

A.Cuaresma

#HarmonyWeek, #HarmonyDay, #multiculturalism, #culturaldiversity, #HumanLibrary, #AzureBeachPublicLibrary, #ABPLEvents

Are We All on the Same Page?

During Harmony Week, Azure Beach Public Library will be running a Human Library event. At this event there will be 5 "Human Books" available to talk to. All of the "Human Books" are Indigenous people from the local community. Whether you are Indigenous yourself, or wanting to learn more, this event provides everyone with access to talk to Indigenous people and ask them the questions that you may have been wondering.

Date: 18th March 2025

Time: 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Location: Azure Beach Public Library

To book a place in this event, phone us on (02) 9717 #### or email us at hello@azurebeachpubliclibrary.gov.au

Want to know more about Human Library events? Click on the link to go to the Human Library organisation's website to find out more information! https://humanlibrary.org/

Image sourced from https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/learning-in-the-sun-gm1225016964-360422120

By E McLuckie

#humanlibrary #harmonyweek #indigenous #events #whatsonatthelibrary #azurebeachpubliclibrary

ABPL Human Library Event - "Threads of Harmony: Embracing Multicultural Stories!"

In celebration of Harmony Week, the Azure Beach Library is excited to host the Human Library event, "Thread of Harmony: Embracing Multicultural Stories!" 

Join us for a unique opportunity to explore diverse cultural heritages through personal stories shared by individuals from various ethnic backgrounds.

 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

Homelessness Prevention Week

Warnings from the future, instructions for the present 

Date and time:

05/08/2024 - 10:00am to 2:00pm

08/08/2024 - 10:00am to 2:00pm

011/08/2024 - 10:00am to 2:00pm

 

Located at: Azure beach Public Library

In an effort to help prevent homelessness, the Azure Beach public Library has collaborated with the Human Library organisation to bring you this event. Volunteers who have experienced homelessness have volunteered their time to help teach others how to avoid homelessness. So come down and lend an ear as they share their warnings from the future so we may use them as instructions for our present.

Boo: Bookings.com

Additional Info:

https://homelessnessaustralia.org.au/homelessness-week/

 

More Than Looks...More Than What You See

Snap judgements, missed opportunities...these are what can happen when you look at just the surface of a person.  

Join us for an extraordinary event at Azure Beach Library which with transcend traditional storytelling and allows you to see "more than just looks". Azure Beach is a community full of diversity. People in the community come from different cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds and each have a unique lived experience unlike any other.

What is Harmony Week?

Harmony Week is about diversity. It is a time of the year for all peoples to come together and realise that everyone is the same regardless of race, religion, culture, ethnicity or the differences that make us, us.  Despite our differences we are all human. Harmony Week is about inclusivity, respect and belonging. For more information visit the official Harmony Week site.

Coming together. 

Belonging. 

Being one.

Photo from: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1188986 

What is a Human Library?

A Human Library is a wonderful event which allows you to "check out" or "borrow" a person instead of a book. It is an opportunity to engaged in one-on-one conversations with "human books" who have agreed to share their unique stories and experiences, ranging from overcoming adversity to cultural journeys and personal triumphs. This human library aims to challenge stereotype, encourage understanding and nurture dialogue amongst community members. The people you see around the shops, at the beach, in the library...they are "more than what you see".

For more information about the Human Library movement visit the official Human Library Organisation site. 

Photo from: https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-team-united-together-people-1917895/ 

Event Details

Date: Saturday 22nd March 2025
Time: 7pm-9:30pm
Location: Azure Beach Library, Main Area.
Booking Information: register here 
Age: 18+

We look forward to seeing you at our Human Library event and hope you leave with a new perspective on life!

For more information about the event contact
Email: hwhumanlib@abl.com.au
Phone: (02) 1234 9876 

Virginia Breen

#HumanLibrary #CommunityEvent #AzureBeachLibrary #CulturalUnderstanding #Storytelling #HarmonyWeek

Black, Yellow and Read

For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have used the spoken word to pass knowledge from one generation to the next.

From creation legends to bush medicine - from tribal history to customs, language and song - wisdom has flowed from the lips of elders to the young.

200 years of colonisation has seen many of these voices silenced.

To mark NAIDOC Week 2024, Azure Beach Library is proud to announce

"Black, Yellow & Read"

a Human Library™ event.

What is a Human Library?

This July, five members of the Gumbaynggirr people will become human "books" - and will once again use their voice to pass their knowledge on - across cultural, social and political divides.

Some books can talk.

We invite you to question, to listen, and to hear.

WHEN

9.30 am -1.00 pm

July 4, 2024

WHERE

Azure Beach Library Courtyard

BOOKINGS

Online: bookings@abpl.nsw.gov.au

Telephone: (02) 9729 8499 (during business hours)

Azure Beach Public Library is a proud supporter of National NAIDOC Week.

#AzureBeachPublicLibrary #BlackYellow&Read #HumanLibrary #NAIDOC2024 #NAIDOCWeek #BlakLoudProud

The "Black, Yellow & Read" logo was created using Microsoft™ Co-Pilot™

"Human Library" is a registered trademark of the Human Library Organisation.  All rights reserved.

The National NAIDOC logo is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-N4 4.0). The details of the relevant license conditions are available on the Creative Commons website with the full legal code.

BY: RICHARD MICHAEL EDWARDS

Indigenous Reading Adventures

Taken form images.squarespace-cdn.com

Indigenous Literacy Day was created as an incentive for Aboriginals to receive a proper education so that they can have the necessary life skills. This will give many opportunities to Aboriginal communities to appreciate the world of books that will be a great benefit to them. The intention of this program is to connect Aboriginal people with their past by encouraging children to read about their past and feel pride in it. It is also important that Aboriginal people feel free to express their cultural identity and participate in public life. This will give Aboriginal children the opportunities they deserve to enter into the realm of fiction and glorify their own superheroes and mythological heroes they have been taught to admire and look up to. Aboriginals of all ages are encouraged to take part in this literacy event as reading is an important life skill but can also strengthen powerful bonds within their community.

To learn more about Indigenous Literacy Day the site can be located at https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ILD

Date and Time: 10/8/2025, l:00 pm-4:00pm

Location/venues: Azure Beach Library Group Study Room.

Booking information: Azure Beach Library on (02) 6165 6208 or email azure.library@azurebeach.gov.au

Labels: #HumanLibrary #azurebeachlibrary #IndigenousLiteracyDay

Full Name: Roberto Carlos Felici