Talking Books

Antiviolence campaigner Ronni Abergel helps combat racism and negative stereotypes through his Denmark-based Living Library, where users check out real people instead of books.

Who are the most popular “books” that are taken out at Living Library?

There are some “global” best sellers but each country has its own best-seller titles. Recently, in London, it was an ex-homeless person. A few weeks before that, it was an ex-gang member. It differs depending on the setting, context, and target group.

What responses have you gotten from both your “books” and their “borrowers”?

Very often people recognize that they’ve gained new information—and even new perceptions—after sitting down with our “books.” I’ve seen heated discussions and one confrontation in eight years.

Do you host Living Libraries in schools and places where kids hang out?

We have already done Living Libraries in schools, where students have pre-booked titles in advance and take them out in pairs or threes. It works great and has an enormous potential. This is the next sector we are looking at to establish more activities.