Krannert Women in Management to offer Human Library
November 5, 2014
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management will host its first Human Library event Nov. 14.
The Human Library, sponsored by Krannert’s Women in Management Program, is aimed at fighting prejudice and improving relations among those from Krannert, the university and the Lafayette/West Lafayette community.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 1:30-4:30 p.m. in the Krannert Drawing Room.
Originally initiated by Danish youth movement “Stop the Violence” in 2000, Human Library (www.humanlibrary.org ) is a civic engagement tool designed to promote dialogue among community members to reduce biases and encourage understanding. In this library, “books” are people. “Readers” check out books for an open and safe conversation.
“The Human Library format can help strengthen dialogue among different cultures, fight bias and promote inclusion,” said Joy Dietz, director of the Women in Management Program. “It provides a safe space for communication and, hopefully, better understanding of differences.”
The Human Library provides a platform for conversations that include unconscious biases that may reduce life and career opportunities. “Books” are not asked to prepare a speech; instead they come ready to engage in conversation with strangers about biases or stereotypes they have encountered related to their book title. A reader can take a book for a 30-minute period; during the conversation, readers are encouraged to ask questions and share their point of view, but always with respect for the book volunteer.
The Krannert Human Library will offer more than 20 human books. Both women and men will be books.
“The Human Library project teaches that managing people cannot be separated from managing and embracing diversity,” said Senem Guler, a master’s student in human resource management and the student leader of the Human Library event.
The Krannert Women in Management Program is the first to organize a Human Library event at a U.S. business school.
For more information, contact kranwim@purdue.edu
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources: Joy Dietz, 765-496-6615, jdietz@purdue.edu
Senem Guler, sguler@purdue.edu
