5月28日斯威本大学在Wantirna校区启动了活人图书馆开馆仪式，朋克族、未成年妈妈和电子混音高手是此次15类外借“活人图书”的一小部分。
自去年利斯莫尔市开设澳大利亚第一个活人图书馆之后，斯威本大学的活人图书馆可谓维多利亚州的第一，也是澳大利亚大学以及TAFE院校范围内的首例特色图书馆。
Joan Cashion，斯威本大学TAFE学院的战略和商务开发执行总监表示，活人图书馆的开设目的就是要大家超越俗套模式，强调迥异性和加强人与人之间的理解。
“活人图书馆的图书都是具有不同生活方式和文化背景的个人。借阅者可有机会与平时不太接触的人分享故事。”
每位“活人图书”可被外借半个小时，他们都选择了自己的头衔，比如“坐在轮椅上的学生”和“神经建筑师”以此来强调不要以貌取人。这个想法意义在于当借阅者有机会和他们交谈，就会发现在头衔背后的不同。
Cashion博士说这个活人图书馆将对斯威本大学的师生开放，其他特殊主题的活图书馆活动季将会贯穿全年。
原文：
‘Living book’ library opens
The Punk, The Teen Mum and Dr Cybersound are a few of the 15 ‘living books’ that are on loan at the launch of Swinburne’s Living Library, to be held at its Wantirna campus 28 May.
Swinburne’s Living Library is believed to be a Victorian first and also the first at a university or TAFE in Australia following on from the opening of Australia’s first at Lismore City Library late last year.
Joan Cashion, Swinburne TAFE’s Executive Director of Strategic and Business Development, said the aim of a Living Library is to overcome stereotyping people and to promote diversity and understanding.
“The books in the Living Library are people from all walks of life with a variety of lifestyles and cultures. The discussions provide borrowers with an opportunity to share the story of someone they may not otherwise spend time with.”
The ‘books’ are available to borrowers for a half hour discussion. They have chosen their own titles, such as Student on Wheels and Bipolar Architect to highlight the notion of ‘never judging a book by its cover’. The idea being that once borrowers have a chance to chat to them they will discover what lies behind the stereotype of the title.
Dr Cashion said the Living Library would be offered to Swinburne staff and students. Other specifically-themed Living Library sessions will be scheduled throughout the year.
