Żywa Biblioteka na Uniwersytecie Łódzkim

The Living Library is an event accompanying the DYWERS photography exhibition, which has been included in the City Programme of Fotofestiwal.

The Living Library is an international movement promoting human rights and social dialogue. It’s been present in Poland since 2007. The idea is based on a "real" library – a reader can borrow a Living Book and "read" it, i.e. talk to it. People who somehow do not fit into rigid social frameworks because they belong to minorities, marginalized and discriminated groups are the Living Books.  

The idea of the event came up somewhat by accident. In 1993, a young man was attacked in Copenhagen. It was a racist attack. His friends opposed this. As a gesture of opposition to the attack, they founded the "Stop Volden" association in Copenhagen – they started activities among their peers against violence so as to prevent such situations. Local campaigns were successful and have gained a group of supporters

– explains Piotr Rembowski, coordinator of this year's Living Library at the University of Lodz, fifth-year student of International Relations at the University of Lodz Faculty of International and Political Studies and President of the Student Science Club for American Studies and Media.

The event itself took place for the first time in 2000. The Living Library method was recognized by the European Council as an official method of human rights education in 2004. In Poland, it appeared in 2007, in Warsaw. The goals of the Living Library are to create a space for dialogue and understanding, promote respect for human rights, transfer knowledge and experience of people exposed to discrimination, stereotyping, prejudice and exclusion. The task of the activity is also to shape attitudes – the attitudes of openness and acceptance towards diversity. 

The Living Library is a part of the university-wide DYWERS project. The entire activity planned for June 2024 consists of several parts, namely: an exhibition of portrait photographs that show social diversity, which will be available for viewing during Fotofestiwal 2024, the Living Library and film screenings shown as part of the TME Polówka Summer Film Festival. 

Source: Piotr Rembowski
Edit: Bartosz Kałużny (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)

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