The Radical Library Workshop

The Radical Library Workshop

The concept of a "Radical Library" is a unique and innovative approach to unveiling unconscious bias and promoting understanding, empathy, and diversity. It's a live event or program where our Radicals, referred to as "books," share their personal stories, experiences, and perspectives with delegates who act as "readers."

Here's how it works:

• Books: People from various backgrounds, with diverse experiences, and unique perspectives attend as "books." Each "book" represents a specific aspect of their identity or life experiences that might be misunderstood or subject to stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination. These can include, but are not limited to, aspects like ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, mental health, or profession.
• Readers: Participants, or "readers," attend the Radical library event to engage in conversations with the "books." They can "borrow" a book for a set amount of time, during which they have a one-on-one or small group conversation with the book. This allows readers to ask questions, share thoughts, and gain a deeper understanding of the book's experiences and perspectives.

Once readers have completed their set ‘reading’ we facilitate a conversation with both groups that is tailored to your specific needs. For example, if your organisation's focus is on anti-racism, we would curate a discussion that focuses on race, racism, racial bias and racial prejudice the Books to understand more about where existing bias lies and begin to break down that bias.

The goal of a Radical Library is to break down stereotypes, challenge prejudices, and promote dialogue and empathy among people from different walks of life, with different identities and different experiences.
 
It provides an opportunity for open and honest conversations that can lead to increased tolerance, awareness, and acceptance of diversity. Human libraries have been organised in various countries as a means of fostering inclusivity, combating discrimination, and building more inclusive and understanding communities.
 
The concept promotes the idea that by "reading" the stories of others, we can become more empathetic, open-minded, and compassionate individuals, contributing to a more inclusive and accepting society and in this case, workplace.