The City of Melville received $3000 from the Office of Multicultural Interests to host a number of Living Library’s which will run during Harmony Week from Monday, 17 March to Thursday, 20 March.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the Living Library embraced the meaning of Harmony Week. “Many of the books represent groups from different walks of life who may have been confronted with prejudice and discrimination,” he said. “The Living Library aims to bring people together from different background to promote unity and respect across different cultures.”

Harmony week celebrates and recognises WA as the nation’s most culturally diverse state and provides an opportunity for all Western Australians to embrace that diversity and the many benefits it brings to society.

Cultural Development Officer – Multicultural, Marcia Coelho said the Living Library program gave people an opportunity to face their predudices. “A Living Library works just like a normal library but instead of people borrowing a book they borrow a person,” she said. “The conversation that takes place between the reader and the ‘book’ aims to promote respect for diversity and develop a more harmonious community.” 

The first City of Melville Living Library, which was held in November 2007 at Bull Creek Library, featured a range of ‘books’ including a Buddhist, a refugee, a Muslim, people with physical and mental disability and many others.

The 2008 Living Library’s will take place in four of the City of Melville Libraries and will run day sessions from 10.00am to 1.00pm and evening sessions from 4.30pm to 7.00pm.

For more information contact Cultural Development Officer – Multicultural, Marcia Coelho on 9364 0660 or visit www.melvillecity.com.au/libraries.