IIM Ranchi launches ‘Human Library’ to help students learn from others’ experiences

The library is based on the idea of a traditional library, where individuals can ‘borrow’ a ‘book’ in the form of a person and converse with them about their life experiences, beliefs, and points of view.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM Ranchi) has launched a ‘Human Library’. The b-school has introduced the initiative to provide a unique opportunity for individuals to engage in meaningful conversations and learn from one another’s experiences. It brought together students, faculty, and members of the community to share their stories and perspectives with one another.

The library is based on the idea of a traditional library, where individuals can ‘borrow’ a ‘book’ in the form of a person and converse with them about their life experiences, beliefs, and points of view.

On the occasion, participants had the opportunity to ‘borrow’ and engage with individuals who represented a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. Each ‘book’ was given a designated time slot for their conversations. The readers were able to ask them questions to learn about them and to know the challenges in their lives.

The event featured a range of ‘books’, including individuals from different professions, religions, cultures, and more, all eager to share their stories and engage in meaningful conversations with attendees. The event was a success, with over 32 ‘books’ participating from different cultures, religions, and walks of life.

One of the ‘books’ was about a student from a tribal community who spoke about their experiences, struggles, and journey to advance in each step of their schooling and jobs. Another was a member of staff who spoke about their own experience with mental illness and the significance of getting assistance and support. Another one was an entrepreneur who talked about the challenges and rewards of starting and running a small business.

The event was organised by the counselling Cell of IIM Ranchi to create a safe and inclusive space for dialogue and learning. They worked with the college library team and faculty to recruit ‘human books’ and promote the event to the community.

Professor Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Director, IIM Ranchi in his address envisioned the idea after researching several models in other nations where this technique is popular, notably in Nordic countries, and wanted to introduce this to IIM Ranchi to establish a more comprehensive model of student growth and development.

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