As the UK celebrates Libraries Week this week, our local libraries in Crosby and Bootle are leading the way with a pioneering new project called the Human Library, which is creating a different type of story at these beloved local spaces.
The Human Library believes that everyone has “gifts of the heart, the head and the hand” to offer their community, and so together with librarians, artists and local residents, the Human Library is producing creative activities, artist-led workshops, skills sharing sessions, events and happenings – where everyone is welcome and everything is free.
Photographs by Motoko Fujita
The Human Library started life as an arts, wellbeing and togetherness project in Bootle and is now extending to Crosby. On 17th, 18th and 20th October the Human Library at Crosby will launch it’s ‘Pool Our Resources’ project, three days of workshops, activities and demonstrations that highlight and share the hidden skills in our local community.
‘Pool our Resources’ will look at how we are reintroducing elements of craft, thrift and upcycling back into our everyday lives. Everyone is invited to come and join us how to learn to bake bread, pickle vegetables, make soap, make a picture frame, save seeds from garden produce or mend a puncture. Workshops led by artists, librarians, social enterprises and local people include DIY with Bootle Tool Shed, Embroidery with Dorlins Haberdashers, Bread for beginners by Homebaked, and candle-making with Ford Lane Allotments. And if you can ferment veg peel, darn socks, fix a bike or rewire a plug – your valuable knowledge is required.
Photographs by Motoko Fujita
This celebration of collective knowledge is a reminder of the importance of our social spaces, and the positive effect of skill-sharing on health and wellbeing. ‘Pool Our Resources’ is a free programme of public workshops and peer-led demonstrations taking place in the beautiful Crosby Library, initiated by artist Sean Roy Parker.
Lesley Davies, Senior Libraries Development Manager said “We’ve loved welcoming so many new faces to Bootle library, from artists to the local community, and together we’ve been trying out new things from printmaking, to sketching and shared cooking. We’re now looking forward to meeting more people, from all walks of life to join us at our Human Library in Crosby”.
Photographs by Motoko Fujita
To find our more about the Human Library projects in Bootle and Crosby, you can speak to one of the Librarians, see the up to date programme on the Human Library website or find them on facebook, twitter or instagram.