The Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic and Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade Tim Cartwright opened „Living library”on Belgrade Book Fair, on Thursaday October 29.

The Living Library in Serbia is a project launched by the Council of Europe in partnership with the Commissioner for Protection of Equality, with the aim to fight prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination against different groups of people. Books in the Living Library are people who belong to groups frequently facing discrimination and prejudices.

Living library was held for the fourth time at the Education fair “The Bell”, a part of Book Fair in Belgrade. During the two-day of activities, on October 29 and 30, more than 20 „Living Books” had almost 800 readings, and visitors of this unique library were curious to hear the living books experiences in aim to contribute to the fight against discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping

The Living Library works exactly like a normal library – readers come and borrow a ‘book’ for a limited period of time. There is only one difference: the Books in the Living Library are human beings, and the Books and readers enter into a personal dialogue. The Books in the Living Library are people representing groups frequently confronted with prejudices and stereotypes, and who are often victims of discrimination, prejudice or social exclusion. In this library, Books can not only speak, but they are also able to reply to the readers’ questions, and the Books can even ask questions and learn themselves.

Motto of Living Library in Serbia is „Don’t judge a book by its cover”.