The McGoogan Health Sciences Library is seeking “living books” for its upcoming living library series.
This three-part series will include:
- A virtual event for UNMC and its clinical partners on Feb. 6 from noon to 1 p.m.;
- An in-person event for the Omaha community on Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the new Community Wellness Collaborative space at the Highlander; and
- Half-hour recorded oral interviews shared with individuals who are interested but unable to attend the live events.
“A living library is an event in which people from a variety of different backgrounds, with unique experiences and inspiring stories, act as ‘living books’ for participants to check out for one-on-one or small-group conversations,” said Jess King, education and research services librarian at McGoogan Library and chair of the living library committee.
The theme for this series is “Bringing Stories of Women’s Health to the Forefront.” Individuals interested in acting as a living book are encouraged to complete the application form by Wednesday, Dec. 13. Examples of living books for this series could include a woman who has a personal health experience to share, a health care professional sharing experiences from a clinical perspective or a researcher sharing individual perspectives.
“The purpose of these storytelling events is to have people from different backgrounds come together in a safe space to engage in candid conversations and learn about diverse experiences,” King said. “These are interactions that may not ordinarily be possible during our daily lives and can help foster or create a deeper sense of empathy and connection with people in our community.
“If you know someone in the UNMC or Nebraska Medicine community who may be interested in participating as a ‘living book,’ I encourage you to share this information and our application form with them.”
Individuals who have questions or would like additional information are encouraged to contact Jess King.