A couple of years ago I saw an article about a library in Sweden which had started a program to lend human beings instead of books. The idea, in the broadest sense, is that you become a “living book”. People in your community can “borrow” you to learn about your life experiences. [See this video report]
For instance you can search the library’s list of human “books” and pick a gay person who has volunteered to share his/her personal story and answer your questions. Or you can take out a former heroin addict and hear real life stories face to face, instead of watching a movie or reading a novel.
You can also interact with a real banker, singer, lawyer or gardner. Why not a chef? There may be a person who specializes in Iranian foods. Bring them to your home and learn to cook ghormeh sabzi from an expert.
There’s something about this idea that really turns me on. It is so out of the box, simple and beautiful: Share your experiences with others. Pass on what you have learned in all these years. Start a living library in your own community. Create a list of 10, 20, 50 interesting people who would like to be a living book and start lending out knowledge on a personal level.
One of my favorite professions is teaching. I have day dreamed about teaching a class in a university about journalism and internet publishing. But I know I will never do it. What I will do, however, is make myself available to the community. You want to become a reporter? Start a web community or magazine? I’ll tell you everything I know. I will be your book and If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area you can “borrow” me.
I think the best setting, for me at least, would be to talk to kids and teenagers at home where parents are interested in giving their children a taste of journalism.
