Trending Now - Exploring the Unique Experience of the Human Library

WHO:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Ronni Abergel, founder of The Human Library (Menneskebiblioteket)

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Christian Sarner, a 33-year-old volunteer who discusses schizophrenia and anxiety

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Noura Bitar, a 37-year-old political scientist from Syria and volunteer

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Viva Olsen, a 55-year-old indigenous Greenlander and volunteer

WHAT:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library allows people to "check out" human beings for 30-minute conversations on various topics.

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library has expanded to over 80 countries, including six in the United States.

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The most popular topics among the "books" include mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, anxiety, and depression.

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library is supported by private foundations and public donations.

WHERE:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library is located in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has branches in over 80 countries, including the United States.

WHEN:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library was founded 26 years ago.

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Noura Bitar came to Denmark in March of 2011.

WHY:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - The Human Library aims to "unjudge" individuals and promote understanding and acceptance among people.

HOW:

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Volunteers at The Human Library are trained to engage in conversations guided by the curiosity of the participants.

[10:27 AM EDT] - CBS News - Each "book" has boundaries regarding what they are comfortable discussing, and they can decline to answer questions beyond those boundaries.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 17:18 UTC)

The Human Library, founded 26 years ago in Copenhagen, Denmark, allows people to "check out" human beings for 30-minute conversations on a variety of topics, promoting understanding and acceptance among individuals. With branches in over 80 countries, including six in the United States, the initiative features volunteers like Ronni Abergel, Christian Sarner, Noura Bitar, and Viva Olsen, who share their experiences on mental health issues such as schizophrenia and anxiety. Each volunteer is trained to engage in conversations that respect their personal boundaries, ensuring a safe and enriching dialogue for all participants.