Students, faculty, and staff will share their personal stories at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library.
it’s important to talk about the hard stuff.
— — Angelica Miceli-Kaya, Loss and Alone
The saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover” will be put to the test at the second Human Library Project on November 8 at the DiMenna-Nyselius Library. As a result of the event’s popularity last year, the DiMenna-Nyselius Library is hosting another Human Library event , and this year participants from last year, known as “sequels,” will join the 25+ new “books” to share their stories with the University community. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to drop in on the event from 1 - 4:30 p.m. and 6 - 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 8.
The Human Library is an international movement that started in Denmark and is an event designed to create conversations that challenge stereotypes and prejudice. Students, faculty, and staff act as “books” and engage in dialogue with participants, known as “readers,” about their own individual experiences. This year, book topics range from growing up homeschooled, to sharing identities of race, nationality, and sexuality, to being adopted, to name a few. All topics aim to break down stereotypes and create an environment where individuals can share aspects of their lives that might not be apparent.
Hear from a few “books” you can talk to at the event:
Angelica Miceli-Kaya, ’21: Loss and Alone
“I want to break the stereotypes associated with being an only child as well as the fears related to death. I’m hoping people won’t be afraid to ask me about my father and how it felt to lose a parent, because it’s important to talk about the hard stuff.
Zoe Smith, ’20: ADHD
“I hope that people will ask how ADHD impacts different aspects of my life because I believe that that answer will humanize it and show people that it is far more complex than its stereotype.”
Madalyn Wantuck, ’18: My Mom’s Not My Nanny
“I think my story is becoming more common…I want to make it easier for people to ask questions about [race], and I hope people can take away from my story how much race is socially constructed in our country.”
Mark Scalese S.J., director of Campus Ministry: Jesuit Priest-Artist-Filmmaker
“I hope people ask why Jesuits are able to do other professional things besides working in parishes and saying Mass.”
The Human Library event is one not to be missed. No registration is required and drop-ins are welcome. The event is co-sponsored by the DiMenna-Nyseluis Library, the Office for Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs, Academic Affairs, Campus Ministry, Center for Faith and Public Life, and Student Affairs. Learn more at fairfield.edu/humanlibrary .
