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Go to the Rochester Public Library  on Saturday, September 27, from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm and you’ll be able to check out a human.

That’s because it will be a human library as well as a library of books.

Started in Denmark in the 1990s as a response to hate crimes, the Human Library is an opportunity for area residents to connect one-on-one with someone who has life experiences, stories and belief systems very different from their own. Just like borrowing a book from the library, participants can ‘check out’ a Human Book for a 30-minute conversation. Human Books are people who are willing to share their experiences, perspectives, values and beliefs in conversation. The human books are open to any kind of question on their chosen topic that is posed in a respectful and non-judgmental way. The Human Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding. The Human Library enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging the most common prejudices in a positive and safe environment. It is a concrete, easily transferable and affordable way of promoting tolerance and understanding.

The event will be hosted at three area Monroe County libraries:Central Library, Rundel Memorial Building, Harold Hacker Hall, 115 South Avenue; Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Road (585-359-7092); Penfield Public Library, 1985 Baird Road (585-340-8720).

See all the humans in their catalog. Click here to go to the page.

Of course, if you can’t get to that particular library that day, when the humans are there, you can go to any library any day and check out a book. It’s pretty much the same thing.