What if instead of simply getting lost in the pages of a book, you could also exchange some ideas and get some answers from it? Imagine finding a talking book that will share knowledge with you, answer your queries, clear your doubts and may be even change some of your opinions. Books may have had an upgrade (some may be agree otherwise!) to e-books and audio books, but a talking book seems like a far cry. Only, if it's not a human book that you're borrowing from a library.
Think we've lost half our mind with all this revelry? No, we haven't because international organisation The Human Library from Copenhagen is coming to Kolkata for the first time and you can legit borrow a human book to share some conversations and exchange some ideas. Started at the break of this century in 2000, this organisation aims to address social prejudices by helping people to talk to those they would not normally meet. Here at this library you can borrow human books who have experienced prejudice, social exclusion or stigma; and as a reader you can ask them questions to broaden your understanding and challenge your own prejudices.
Active in more than 80 different countries across the world, this library will come to Kolkata for the first time on Sunday Jan 6 to talk on such topics like gender, domestic violence, mental health, crafts, creativity, travel and on others. As a reader, you get to spend at least 20 minutes with each book.