East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust Knowledge and Library Services: Living Library

In order to build an environment that encourages open discussion, the Living Library has the following ground rules for all participants:

• The Books are to be treated with dignity, respect, care, and courtesy at all times.

• Books should be transparent, fair, and respectful to their Readers.

• Participation is voluntarily and readers should be open to conversations.

• Readers must approach interactions with living books with open-mindedness and be respectful in their questions and conversation regardless of personal beliefs, biases, or opinions. This means asking questions in good faith, rather than passing judgment, avoiding monopolizing the Books's story and conversation, and remembering that the Reader's role is to listen rather than share their own story.

• Avoid inappropriate verbal language or physical gestures during the Living Library event. 

• No threatening or intimidating behaviour towards others, whether physical, verbal or psychological, will be tolerated. 

• Do not recruit, evangelise, or proselytise your views, beliefs, or politics with a view to conversion during the Living Library event. Discussion and dialogue, yes; Recruitment, no. 

• Do not express or act on any prejudices and stereotypes on toward the person - e.g., homophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, transphobia, ageism, ableism etc. 

• Exchanging of contact information is at the discretion of the Book and Reader. 

• Books are empowered to keep limits / boundaries on the themes they wish to discuss and reserve the right to respectfully decline answering specific questions.

• Books and readers can end the conversation if they feel that they are being treated in an inappropriate or disrespectful manner.

• Please do not take photos or record the conversation without the Book’s or Reader’s permission.

• Confidentiality should be maintained regarding personal experiences and stories. Boundaries must also be respected.

• At any point participants (Books or Readers) may report any concerns or issues to the library team either by email or phone.

• Photos of the Living Library session may be taken by library staff for publicity purposes. If you would like to opt out of your photo being taken, please notify the library team.

Explore the human books available in our living library on the library catalogue. We are recruiting new titles, so be sure to check back regularly!

Why not share your story? If you would like to become a human book in the living library, please complete this form and the library team will be in touch with further information.