Needham committee explores 'Human Library' program; applicant seeks town committee sponsorship

Greg, a member of the Needham Human Rights Committee, presented a proposal to host a Human Library event in town and described steps he has taken to seek affiliation with the global Human Library organization.

Greg said he applied to the Human Library organization to become a local publisher and that the licensing process could take “a couple months” and possibly up to six months. He told the committee he had met with staff at the Center of the Heights and that the center’s staff expressed enthusiasm and offered several possible indoor and outdoor spaces.

Greg said library staff were receptive but described a more formal internal process; he identified Gay Carbonneau (library staff) and Ayesha Kelly (Center of the Heights) as local contacts who had discussed space and logistics. Greg said Miles at Town Hall told him the committee could gain wider access to municipal venues, and possibly additional backing, if the Human Rights Committee voted to sponsor the program.

Members discussed program format: volunteers would register as “books,” create short synopses for the public listing, and meet with readers one-on-one or in short sessions. Committee members described possible fall timing for a public event, recommended creating training or an orientation session for prospective “books,” and suggested a pilot event to establish procedures.

The committee agreed Greg should continue collecting information and return with a brief written plan and sample materials. Members said formal committee sponsorship would require a committee vote at a future meeting. Several members volunteered to assist with outreach and logistics as details develop.