every person is a book every life tells a story

Every Person Is A Book

Every Life Tells A Story

Tina ViglucciHispanic Services Manager

Tatiana CalhamerReaders Services Librarian

Gail Borden Public LibraryElgin, Illinois

Stories: On our shelves, on our streets

From papyrus scrolls to “hot off the Gutenberg press” bestsellers to e-books, libraries have a long tradition of preserving and promoting stories.

Some of the most fascinating books you'll ever read are the life stories told by your friends and neighbors. Connect your patrons with the wonderful and compelling stories that walk through your doors every day.

Stories come in many packagesStories: In all shapes and forms

• human books • photos• recipes• oral histories• books, of course!• letters

Value of collecting stories: how it adds to our mission

• Preserving memories/documenting history• Empowers the storyteller • Community unity• Not everyone is a professional writer…

but each story has worth

How your library can be involved:

Leading the charge:• Your library is the go-to place for books and movies—be

the go-to place for community conversations, storytelling events, cultural festivals, etc.

• Promote the value of telling and keeping your community’s stories wherever you go

• Preserve and archive storiesSupport:• Give local storytellers and historians a venue• Partner with schools, colleges, local museums, and

philanthropic organizations to hold community story events, share costs, write grants, etc.

What is a “human library?”

The original Human Library was established in Denmark in 2000 and has spread to over 27 countries. Human Library Chicago presents an annual event, which inspired me.

Note: Gail Borden Public Library wasn’t able to use the name of the international event. Your library must apply at www.humanlibrary.org in order to use the trademarked name, but only if you are accepted to host such an event.

Seven people from Elgin’s Hispanic community shared their stories to over 40 readers during our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration

on Sunday, Oct. 12th, 2014.

What is a “Book That Lives?”Volunteers signed up to be “books” and shared their life stories with “readers,” who “checked out” their books for a “loan period.” During the 30 min. “loan period,” each Book That Lives told their story, followed by a conversation with the “reader.”

Most of our books were bilingual and told their stories in both English and Spanish.

Former NBC cameraman Rick Rodriguez weaves his tale of adventure to an enthralled reader:

What stories are out there?

Take an inventory of the communities within your community: immigrants/refugees, veterans, pioneer descendants, longtime residents, artists, entrepreneurs, survivors/overcomers, even animals!

Sources:Community groups and organizationsLocal newspapers and reportersPut it out there: Facebook, newsletter, email blastBe alert to individuals with stories to share: in your programs and classes, fairs etc. Pay attention during one-on-one conversations, too!

We’re looking for:

• Someone with a compelling, unique, moving, interesting, heartwarming story

• Examples include: someone who has succeeded despite obstacles, turned their life around, or made a significant contribution to the community

• Someone who is willing to share that story

Have your books compose a title for their life story and a brief summary, which you can use for publicity purposes, and also for the catalog on the day of your event. You

may also want a photo of your book to use on the cover.

Every person is a book…

Every life tells a story…

The catalog also offered a “multi-volume set:” the local domino club originally from Puerto Rico.

• All of these books were designed by our talented graphic artist Daniel Escamilla. The covers were then mounted on foam board. These “mock books” were on display during the event for readers to “browse.”

Planning your event

Determine the time frame of your event. Each book should have time to tell their story, then allow time for conversation with the reader, and a break for the book in between “loan periods.” Our event had 30 min. loan periods—10 min. for the book, 10 min. for conversation, and a 10 min. break for the book. We planned a 2 hr. long event with 7 books.

Suggestions:

Use a project management tool to keep track of tasks as you plan your event.

You can do on-site circulation of your human books, or advance reservations. Try online check-outs!

Provide refreshments for an extra-festive event. Make sure you have water for your books, who will be taxing their voices.

Enlist volunteers to help readers choose books, escort readers to their books, and provide hospitality.

Chef Helen Lopez-Strom invites her readers to inhale the scents of cilantro y cebolla:

Each book should have their own space: seating for the book and their readers, and enough room so that books aren’t struggling to make themselves heard and the reader can enjoy a one-on-one experience.

JoAnn Armenta, the first Latina State trooper, has a young and an adult reader. We ran into groups of family members who wanted to read together.

David Im and his wife share their families holiday

celebrations which are a mix of Mexican and Korean traditions.

Library graphic artist Daniel designed “library cards” for the event. The cards listed the time slots available that readers could fill in with the titles of their checked-out books.

A Festival of StoriesWe also invited good old-fashioned authors and children’s storytellers.

A Festival of StoriesSome prefer to tell their stories at a distance…

A diversity of stories

ExperiencesNationalitiesLanguageGenerations

A story for every reader, a reader for every story… Capture a good cross-section of your community that is as inclusive as possible

Sharing and Preserving the Stories

Easy to view at the Library and on YouTube. They live on in our Library’s own archive, Elgin Area Memories.

http://www.gailborden.info/elginareamemories/collections/103-hispanic-heritage-month-celebration-2015

Other storytelling opportunities

The Big Read: The Things they CarriedThe Big Read: The Things They CarriedAssignment: tie-in to the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration events.


The Big Read: The Objects We Carry

My hammock brings to mind pictures of times spent with family, with my grandmother , surrounded by palm trees and mountains. Relaxing in it, on the roof of my building, is the ideal way to slow down life and think. Some of those memories and ideas make it into my journals, which I have been writing and keeping for many years.



I carry my faith with me and that means I carry this image of the Virgin of Guadalupe I painted with me. She is the primary example of my Mexican heritage and the strong faith in our culture. I am now 86 and started painting at 65.



My mother carried me in this ‘rebozo’ (shawl.) When I was 12 years old, I carried my little brother in the same ‘rebozo’ while I did the housework. Today a ‘rebozo’ is like a pretty accessory, but not so long ago it was something useful and necessary to have in the house.

http://www.gailborden.info/elginareamemories/hispanic-heritage-month

Other storytelling opportunitiesThe Big Read: The Recipes We Carry

http://www.gailborden.info/elginareamemories/hispanic-heritage-month


Veterans History Project—Library Of Congress Partners: VITAS and Unity Hospice

Our first foray into collecting veterans’ stories was a 2009 project called Tapestry of Freedom, part of the Library Of Congress/Veterans History Project, in which we partnered with Elgin Academy. 8th graders interviewed and filmed veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. For some vets, it was the first time they’d shared their stories. For some students, it was the first time they’d heard such stories.

Tapestry of Freedom videos available on the Elgin Area Memories webpage:

http://bit.ly/1UDHLyA


Each One Reach One


Fireside Chats


NIU Oral History Project: Lao

NIU Oral History Project: Latino


StoryCorps@YourLibrary

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Oral History Program (Non-Illinois: check your state library for similar programs)

Local writers’ groups (find out who has written memoirs)

Local history outlets—museums, festivals, etc.

Thank you very much! Please contact us with any questions/comments:Tatiana Calhamer

[email protected]

Tina [email protected]

847-429-6713

every person is a book every life tells a story

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