Canadian Library to Loan Out People 98
Wouldn't it be easier to learn Chinese from a native speaker than from a book, or explore a religion from an actual practitioner rather than words on a page? A library in Surrey, B.C. thinks so and has introduced a "human library" program. Visitors will be able to "check-out" real people to learn about their experiences and specific knowledge. From the article: "...The goal is to break down stereotypes and start discussions, said deputy chief librarian Melanie Houlden. 'What we're aiming to do is bring the library to life for people. There are huge repositories of experience and knowledge in their own brains,' she said." As long as you stay out of the horror section, this sounds like a great idea.
Sustainable (Score:1)
How can this idea even be sustainable? You're going to find a sufficient number of people willing to give up their time to do these things for complete strangers with no guarantee of compensation?
It is a library, right? Free to join, no cost to check out? Where are the revenues going to come from?
Re:Sustainable (Score:5, Insightful)
How can this idea even be sustainable? You're going to find a sufficient number of people willing to give up their time to do these things for complete strangers with no guarantee of compensation?
It is a library, right? Free to join, no cost to check out? Where are the revenues going to come from?
Yeah. Also, open-source software is never going to catch on for the same reasons...
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Sustainable (Score:4, Insightful)
Unlike open source software where one can write the code once, or write a portion of the code once, and have it used many times, you need somebody that's going to be there providing every single moment of the loan period. Granted the periods of time aren't going to be the same as for books, but you'd still need somebody to provide every hour of loan.
Additionally, with OSS you get an ecosystem that can survive past the point where people contribute to it, if in a stunted form whereas the moment people stop volunteering to be loaned out the project comes to a screeching halt.
Re: (Score:1)
Oh of course not. Things like PHP and Apache will never catch on.......right? =P
Re: (Score:2)
How can this idea even be sustainable? You're going to find a sufficient number of people willing to give up their time to do these things for complete strangers with no guarantee of compensation?
The same way that Wikipedia is sustainable (at least so far). As long as volunteers get to choose how much time they give, I can see the system being fairly sustainable over a significant time period, at least in general.
It is a library, right? Free to join, no cost to check out? Where are the revenues going to come from?
Again, money might not be an issue here. Yes, it will cost something (but probably not all that much), but since it's a library (aka non-profit), donations could always be *highly suggested*
Re: (Score:3)
The same way that Wikipedia is sustainable (at least so far). As long as volunteers get to choose how much time they give, I can see the system being fairly sustainable over a significant time period, at least in general.
Unlike Wikipedia and books, a person can't be duplicated and perused by thousands at the same time. This is more like a museum lending out unique pieces, hoping that the public will treat them well.
This is doomed. When starting a project, always take human nature into account, and remember that human nature is always worse than you believe.
Re: (Score:3)
It's a volunteer program (and a PR stunt.) TFA: "People with various personal experiences have already agreed to volunteer, she said."
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
Volunteers do this sort of thing without compensation all the time. Language lessons, tax form assistance, house work, odd jobs, you name it. The interesting bit about this story is that it's the library doing the coordination, rather than individual, smaller (possibly less well-known) organizations (churches, community programs, what have you).
Re: (Score:1)
There are plenty of people who love to talk about their experiences and would be happy to get only human company in return. Elderly people spring to mind first, but surely there are many more.
Also, it seems not at all unlikely that there might be a dialogue rather than a one-way flow of information. The experience might be intellectually rewarding for both sides.
Re:Sustainable (Score:5, Insightful)
Are you kidding me? I love the idea of this program!! I have done some fairly interesting things in my life and if there was some sort of library nearby me where I could register to talk about it with anyone interested, I would put at least a few hours a week into it. You get to meet people who are interested in something you know about and want you to talk about it, it just sounds like a social blast to me.
Maybe this is missing its point on slashdot because of the whole "social" part of it.....?
Re: (Score:2)
Your middle school called. They said you need to repeat 7th grade.
Again.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Me three! I was scanning down to find a like minded thread before I started my own. It's already formed, can I have a name tag and some cake? I will hand out the punch, and I brought chips.
Re: (Score:2)
One question (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3)
Only one question: can I "check out" hot girls?
No, but you can still do it the way you've always done it: through their bedroom windows with a pair of binoculars.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
No, but you can learn about STDs from a real live hooker. Hands-on experience costs extra.
Hm. (Score:2)
could not resist (Score:1)
Nice idea. (Score:3)
"I'd like to read up on Creationism and Chiropractic, please."
"Certainly, you can borrow Canada's Minister of Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear."
(I shit you not, this is the case. Sad.)
Re: (Score:2)
They do have a conservative government right now...
Abuse (Score:1)
I could see so much room for abuse. Many people would talk about what it's like to be somebody else.
A: "So, what's it like to be a Liberal?"
B: "Well, we're emotional, logical, intelligent, caring, financially sound, down to earth, loving...pretty much everything that Conservatives are not."
Re: (Score:3)
Chiropractics is really two fields pretending to be one. On the one side, you have well educated people who are frequently also medical doctors using a range of physical therapy methods to improve back and spinal health. Still concerning in that they tend to see a large number of issues stemming from the spine but they at least try to be analytical and evidence based. On the other side you have people that believe that literally every human ailment is caused by spinal disorders, from a sore back to cance
How much is the fine? (Score:3)
When I fail to return them?
Re: (Score:2)
How much is the fine when I fail to return them?
You become a ward of the library.
Re: (Score:3)
3 meals a day.
Re: (Score:1)
How do you think they get new "volunteers"?
I do wonder what their fees are if you return any in damaged condition though.
In all seriousness, I'd guess the Human Resource section is much like the Reference section -- in-library use only.
Re: (Score:2)
They return themselves.
Re: (Score:2)
There used to be a site out on the internets that connected people from different countries that want to learn foreign through videochat so they could learn by chatting with native speakers. I forget what it's called. Not really suited for shy though.
In Soviet Canuckistan (Score:2)
Book checks out you!
not a new concept (Score:1)
Cooking (Score:1)
A good idea (Score:3)
I already do this (Score:1)
Loan out Chinese people? (Score:2)
Miss Grammar Sez: (Score:1)
Lend, dammit!
Sure, as long as Amy Pond is available... (Score:2)
Amy Pond is in the library. Amy Pond has been saved.
I'm checking her out.
Re: (Score:3)
sorry Amy Pond is already checked out would you like Donna Noble instead??
I'd like a Blond, F, 25 yrs, and 38/24/36 please. (Score:1)
Perverts at the library now take their Pr0n home (Score:1)
it's already been done (Score:3)
I've read about it being done in a few cities in Poland. It's more of an art happening then a practical thing. The "exposition" is made of members of different kind of minorities (one Jew, one atheist, one gay person, etc.) who you can "borrow" and talk to. Neat idea and of course it's been protested by homophobic morons.
The project is called ywa Biblioteka (alive library) - http://www.zywabiblioteka.pl/ [zywabiblioteka.pl] .
Re: (Score:1)
Yep, it's been done all over and is a pretty cool idea.
I participated in a 'Human Library' here in Victoria, BC at UVic, as 'A Victoria Vegan'. I was 'signed-out' for 30min sessions, and chatted with people about veganism, dispelling myths, etc.. It was pretty fun, and it was a good way for people to find out more about other subjects. Other 'books' were a visiting/exchange Czech, someone who is narcoleptic, people with mixed-heritage (usually ones that would conflict!) parents, someone who practice polyam
I'd like ... (Score:2)
No (Score:2)
"or explore a religion from an actual practitioner"
Absolutely not.
In the case of religion every practitioner has radically different views of what there religion is and they almost all have warped views of the history of there religion.
Almost all book on a religion will give you far more facts about it then any of its practitioners.
Re: (Score:2)
Now that I've quelled your anti-religious rant...
As it turns out, if you RTFA, the purpose of the program is to discuss individual experiences and get perspectives. Nothing in the article says anything about obtaining facts. If you want fa
Re: (Score:2)
Sure, but it makes perfect sense to get a actual person to teach them their language.
Sure everyone speaks a little different but it is normally close enough to understand.
And it makes sense to learn physics from a physicists, but a practitioner of a religion is unique in that going to one of them for knowledge of the religion is a very bad idea.
So no your "[topic]" is ridiculous and really only applies to religions, cults, and maybe a few other things that depend on some sort of brainwashing or evoke a huge
Ivan Illich (Score:2)
Deschooling Society [wikipedia.org] by Ivan Illich.
This idea wins! (Score:1)
...the stupidest idea ever published on Slashdot.
Borrowing? (Score:2)
Isn't this already called "tutoring"?
Sounds similar (Score:1)
75 commments... (Score:1)
...And not one reference to Head Museums from Futurama?
Slashdot, I am disappoint.
Free hookers? (Score:2)
File me under... (Score:2)
Sexual Education!
right... (Score:2)
What a bad idea (Score:1)
Shades of Ray Bradbury (Score:2)
Wow! News hits slashdot only 11 years late (Score:1)
http://humanlibrary.org/press-archive.html [humanlibrary.org]
OK, only 3 years after USA Today (and NY Times) got to it:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-10-17-1940310534_x.htm [usatoday.com]
Pretty soon slashdot will be the place to go for news for nerds and stuff that matters. Oh, wait.