Press release: "Have you ever felt that a story was like a cold shower for you? The feeling is something similar to that when a story shakes the foundations of your prejudices. Of course, you have prejudices.

A conversation, or as it is called here, a “reading”, can help you break your barriers, and your released energy and gained knowledge can benefit others through you. Come here, get to know our society’s marginalised and underestimated groups and yourself.

What can be expected on the second Kazinczy Living Library?

We expanded the range of books in cooperation with MigSzol Group, Menedék, Association, Open Doors Hungary and Artemisszió Foundation. On 7th of March, you will be able to talk to people who chose Hungary after leaving their own country. How and why does someone leave their homeland? Hoping for a better life? Because of money? Because of the family? Because of politics? What is it like to live here? There are several more questions, and what we need is a hearty conversation and a change that it starts.

Be up-to-date, be sensitive and come to the Kazinczy Living Library and find an answer to your questions. Of course this time also in two languages, English and Hungarian.

What is a Living Library?

The Living Library is a method created to promote respect, dialogue and to challenge stereotypes and discrimination between different social groups. The Kazinczy Living Library opened successfully its doors in January in Szimpla Kert and we are pleased to announce the second event on the topic of Immigrants.

The Living Library is set up as a space for interaction and debate. While in a conventional library visitors can borrow books for reading, in a living library visitors can borrow people for an honest conversation. The Books in a living library are people who are marginalized due to their ethnicity, religion, profession, sexuality, social status, health, background, etc. During this informal dialogue, the Books are sharing their personal experience regarding any kind of discrimination or inequality they have to face in their life and the Reader can interact, ask questions and reflect on his/her own prejudices.

The idea for the Living Library comes from Denmark, where a group of youngsters decide to take a stand against violence, after their friend is killed. They get the chance realize their idea during the Roskilde Festival, at which they organize the activities.

The free of charge event during the festival in 2000 has a huge success. Then another festival in Hungary, namely ‘Sziget’, follows the example and the idea spreads in many countries around the world, including the European states, the Philippines and many more. Nowadays, Austria is one of the countries with permanent Living Library events, and countries that rank lower in democracy rankings, such as Belarus launch Living Libraries.

From a festival activity, the Living Library changes its venue and starts taking place at public libraries, schools, universities and other public places. The topics for the Books can reflect both global and local issues, typical for a country.

The Kazinczy Living Library was created inside the walls of Szimpla Kert in Kazinczy street. The organization team had the wish to create an event both aimed at local people and international community in Budapest. Szimpla Kert is not only an ideal venue, but also gives a special setting for international Living Library events, since it is already a well known cultural sight among foreigners living in Budapest and locals as well.

The second event takes place on the 7th of March with the new topic of Immigrants. By choosing this topic, the Kazinczy Living Library Team aims to reach Hungarians and all local or visiting nationalities to start a dialogue about these global and local issue. We truly believe that these conversations will lead us closer to accepting and understanding each other.

How it goes

Readers coming to the 7th of March event will be suggested Books from immigrant community, but also Books from the previous topic including community workers, homeless people, and ex drug addict people.

Readers will be assisted and guided by a team of thirty Hungarian librarians fluent in English.

The volunteers will help the Readers to find a Book regarding their interest.

The Readers, as in a conventional public library will have to register to borrow a Book.

Then, the Reader and the Book will have a twenty-minute discussion during which they will be in condition to share their opinion in a friendly environment.

Hungarian Books will be translated into English when needed by the volunteers.

Buy your lunch at Kazinczy Living Library and support the Living Books with your donation. If you feel like donating, you can donate more than a lunch costs, don’t worry, it all goes to the Living Books!

The Kazinczy Living Library Team is expecting You!

Families with children are especially welcome, as Menedék Association is organizing an INTERCULTURAL PLAYHOUSE for the children visiting our event."

Starts at 12 o'clock

More information: 

facebook.com/kazinczylivinglibrary

Facebook event for 7  March