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Canadian Library to Loan Out People
Wouldn't it be easier to learn Chinese from a native speaker than from a book, or explore a religion from an actual practitioner rather than words on a page? A library in Surrey, B.C. thinks so and has introduced a "human library" program. Visitors will be able to "check-out" real people to learn about their experiences and specific knowledge. From the article: "...The goal is to break down stereotypes and start discussions, said deputy chief librarian Melanie Houlden. 'What we're aiming to do is bring the library to life for people. There are huge repositories of experience and knowledge in their own brains,' she said." As long as you stay out of the horror section, this sounds like a great idea.
Only one question: can I "check out" hot girls?
No, but you can still do it the way you've always done it: through their bedroom windows with a pair of binoculars.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
How can this idea even be sustainable? You're going to find a sufficient number of people willing to give up their time to do these things for complete strangers with no guarantee of compensation?
It is a library, right? Free to join, no cost to check out? Where are the revenues going to come from?
Yeah. Also, open-source software is never going to catch on for the same reasons...
"I'd like to read up on Creationism and Chiropractic, please."
"Certainly, you can borrow Canada's Minister of Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear."
(I shit you not, this is the case. Sad.)
Trolling is a art,
How can this idea even be sustainable? You're going to find a sufficient number of people willing to give up their time to do these things for complete strangers with no guarantee of compensation?
The same way that Wikipedia is sustainable (at least so far). As long as volunteers get to choose how much time they give, I can see the system being fairly sustainable over a significant time period, at least in general.
It is a library, right? Free to join, no cost to check out? Where are the revenues going to come from?
Again, money might not be an issue here. Yes, it will cost something (but probably not all that much), but since it's a library (aka non-profit), donations could always be *highly suggested*
It's a volunteer program (and a PR stunt.) TFA: "People with various personal experiences have already agreed to volunteer, she said."
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
When I fail to return them?
Yeah, its like they could get people to write down their life lessons and experiences, and then bind those pages together and loan out the bound pages. We could call them bopages or something catchy and hook the kids.
11 was a racehorse
12 was 12
1111 Race
12112
Unlike open source software where one can write the code once, or write a portion of the code once, and have it used many times, you need somebody that's going to be there providing every single moment of the loan period. Granted the periods of time aren't going to be the same as for books, but you'd still need somebody to provide every hour of loan.
Additionally, with OSS you get an ecosystem that can survive past the point where people contribute to it, if in a stunted form whereas the moment people stop volunteering to be loaned out the project comes to a screeching halt.
Volunteers do this sort of thing without compensation all the time. Language lessons, tax form assistance, house work, odd jobs, you name it. The interesting bit about this story is that it's the library doing the coordination, rather than individual, smaller (possibly less well-known) organizations (churches, community programs, what have you).
I've read about it being done in a few cities in Poland. It's more of an art happening then a practical thing. The "exposition" is made of members of different kind of minorities (one Jew, one atheist, one gay person, etc.) who you can "borrow" and talk to. Neat idea and of course it's been protested by homophobic morons.
The project is called ywa Biblioteka (alive library) - http://www.zywabiblioteka.pl/ .
Hehe, I do too apparently. Because right after thinking that this does seem like a good idea...that's right where I went as well.
sorry Amy Pond is already checked out would you like Donna Noble instead??
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The same way that Wikipedia is sustainable (at least so far). As long as volunteers get to choose how much time they give, I can see the system being fairly sustainable over a significant time period, at least in general.
Unlike Wikipedia and books, a person can't be duplicated and perused by thousands at the same time. This is more like a museum lending out unique pieces, hoping that the public will treat them well.
This is doomed. When starting a project, always take human nature into account, and remember that human nature is always worse than you believe.
Are you kidding me? I love the idea of this program!! I have done some fairly interesting things in my life and if there was some sort of library nearby me where I could register to talk about it with anyone interested, I would put at least a few hours a week into it. You get to meet people who are interested in something you know about and want you to talk about it, it just sounds like a social blast to me.
Maybe this is missing its point on slashdot because of the whole "social" part of it.....?
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