Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
A Human Library is a structured event that brings people from different groups together. It simulates the format of a customary library, with ‘Readers’ borrowing ‘Books’, who are human volunteers sharing their lived experiences and perspectives. Rooted in principles of social psychology, Human Libra...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
F1000 Research Ltd
2023-10-01
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| Series: | MedEdPublish |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://mededpublish.org/articles/13-208/v1 |
| _version_ | 1797304914376916992 |
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| author | Rebecca Malhi Aaron Johnston Javeria Shafiq Grace Perez |
| author_facet | Rebecca Malhi Aaron Johnston Javeria Shafiq Grace Perez |
| author_sort | Rebecca Malhi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A Human Library is a structured event that brings people from different groups together. It simulates the format of a customary library, with ‘Readers’ borrowing ‘Books’, who are human volunteers sharing their lived experiences and perspectives. Rooted in principles of social psychology, Human Libraries provide opportunities for Books and Readers to interact in meaningful dialogue. The goal of each interaction is to give the Reader new understanding of the Book’s life. The Human Library was originally developed as a strategy to challenge prejudice through conversation and personal connection, but the approach is remarkably versatile. We repurposed it for a medical education context in order to provide learners in medical school with information and inspiration, particularly about rural life and rural medicine. We organized and held two Human Library events where pre-medical and undergraduate medical students (Readers) engaged in dialogue with rural physicians (Books). However, the strategy could be used to address a wide variety of challenging subjects where the potential Readers are biased or lack experience. This article draws upon research literature and our own experiences of running Human Library events to give practical advice for other organizations who might want to use this novel approach in medical education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:17:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a4d39078f6f64c668b3a9c3398f8389a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2312-7996 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:17:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | F1000 Research Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPublish |
| spelling | doaj.art-a4d39078f6f64c668b3a9c3398f8389a2024-02-17T01:00:00ZengF1000 Research LtdMedEdPublish2312-79962023-10-011321156Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]Rebecca Malhi0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0876-1061Aaron Johnston1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8016-6937Javeria Shafiq2https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4585-7978Grace Perez3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6027-0825Distributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, CanadaDistributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, CanadaDistributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, CanadaDistributed Learning and Rural Initiatives, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, CanadaA Human Library is a structured event that brings people from different groups together. It simulates the format of a customary library, with ‘Readers’ borrowing ‘Books’, who are human volunteers sharing their lived experiences and perspectives. Rooted in principles of social psychology, Human Libraries provide opportunities for Books and Readers to interact in meaningful dialogue. The goal of each interaction is to give the Reader new understanding of the Book’s life. The Human Library was originally developed as a strategy to challenge prejudice through conversation and personal connection, but the approach is remarkably versatile. We repurposed it for a medical education context in order to provide learners in medical school with information and inspiration, particularly about rural life and rural medicine. We organized and held two Human Library events where pre-medical and undergraduate medical students (Readers) engaged in dialogue with rural physicians (Books). However, the strategy could be used to address a wide variety of challenging subjects where the potential Readers are biased or lack experience. This article draws upon research literature and our own experiences of running Human Library events to give practical advice for other organizations who might want to use this novel approach in medical education.https://mededpublish.org/articles/13-208/v1Human Library undergraduate medical education attitudinal change rural medicine recruitment prejudice reductioneng |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Malhi Aaron Johnston Javeria Shafiq Grace Perez Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] MedEdPublish Human Library undergraduate medical education attitudinal change rural medicine recruitment prejudice reduction eng |
| title | Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] |
| title_full | Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] |
| title_fullStr | Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] |
| title_short | Practical Tips for using a Human Library approach In medical education [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations] |
| title_sort | practical tips for using a human library approach in medical education version 1 peer review 1 approved 2 approved with reservations |
| topic | Human Library undergraduate medical education attitudinal change rural medicine recruitment prejudice reduction eng |
| url | https://mededpublish.org/articles/13-208/v1 |
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