Prestwich Library in partnership with UNISON are holding a “Living Library” event where, instead of checking out a normal book, people will be able to “borrow” a person who has their own unique story to tell.

The Living Library event takes place at Prestwich Library on Thursday 19 November 2009 from 2pm to 6pm, and all are welcome to attend.

You can choose from a catalogue of twelve books, sit and listen to their stories in small groups or on a one on one basis and then ask questions for up to twenty minutes. Amongst the ‘Living Books’ to choose from will be “Wedding in a Handcart” which tells of a ‘take a break’ style wedding from hell. It will make you laugh, it made her cry! Another Living Book is about a life intertwined with ‘World Cup Fever’, recounting how the demands of watching 50+ live matches a month can be reconciled with life as a father, husband, call centre worker and member of the world’s worst punk band.

The project aims to offer a novel way of improving community cohesion across the region. The union has built up its own catalogue of members from the public sector to be books with stories and backgrounds that are designed to challenge prejudice and stereotypical views.

The Living Libraries idea came from Denmark in the year 2000 and has been praised as a great way of getting people with different backgrounds to talk to each other and gain a different perspective on life.

Prestwich Library is in the Longfield Centre, Prestwich M25 1AY. If you would like more information about the Living Library event please do not hesitate to contact Alison Bond McNally on 0161 253 7345.