‘Books’ who talk back

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008 | 2:06 a.m.

An idea that made its debut at a Danish rock concert eight years ago is finding its way to American libraries. We hope it catches on all over the country.

The idea was to get people of different ethnicities, races, cultures and interests talking with one another as a way of overcoming prejudice. A group of young people in Copenhagen, Denmark, thought of it after one of their friends was stabbed in what presumably was a hate crime.

They persuaded organizers of the Roskilde Festival — one of Europe’s largest music festivals — to set aside an area that could be decorated as a library. Only instead of checking out books, concertgoers “checked out” people of varying backgrounds and chatted with them for specified periods of time.

Word of the success of these “living libraries” spread, and it wasn’t long before music festivals throughout Europe were hosting them.

Three years ago the main branch of Copenhagen’s libraries adopted the concept, which quickly spread to libraries in other European countries.

On Saturday the main library in Santa Monica, Calif., hosted a similar event featuring 14 volunteer “living books” of diverse backgrounds. “A personal conversation breaks down barriers and connects two strangers who might not otherwise have the opportunity to speak to each other,” a library official told the Associated Press.

Within 30 minutes, all the volunteers were “on loan” to library patrons, with conversations taking place either in the library’s study rooms or outside in the courtyard.

This Saturday the library for the city of Bainbridge Island, in the Puget Sound near Seattle, will host another group of “living books.” Volunteers will include a hunter, a military officer and a vegetarian.

We like this idea because it promotes understanding as well as the art of conversation, something that seems to be getting lost in this day of Internet surfing and text messaging.

Additionally, the concept has potential for being expanded. Schoolchildren, for example, might want to check out a volunteer who is an expert in a subject they’re struggling with. Others might want to chat with a world traveler or an expert in folk instruments.

We’re certain there would be no shortage of volunteers, or of people eager to talk with them.