You can read them like a book!

3:34am Saturday 10th May 2008

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If you fancy learning something about another person's way of life, you can now borrow a real live person to give it to you straight.

Instead of taking a book out, Bradford Central Library is loaning real people who have put themselves forward for the experimental project.

Bradford Council is one of four local authorities taking part in the Living Library scheme which has boosted library numbers in Denmark where it originated.

It gives direct access to another person's experience, by allowing the visitor to "borrow" a person who wants to share their passion about a hobby, lifestyle or interest.

The list of people who have put themselves forward to be "borrowed" include two Goths, an allotment holder, a composter, a former vicar, a carer, a knitter, a Nightstop worker who works with homeless people, and a munroist - someone who climbs munros, small mountains in Scotland.

During special sessions next week, anyone can go along to the library, look at the list of human "books" in a catalogue and choose who they would like to spend half an hour with. They will then be able to take the opportunity to pick up some life experience and knowledge from someone else in their community.

Two Goths - Dani Graves and his fiancee Tasha Maltby - are looking forward to being "borrowed" to tell people about their way of life.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for environment and culture, said: "This is a great opportunity for a library visitor to go along and meet someone they might never otherwise meet in their day-to-day lives."

Christine Dyson, senior information manager, who is organising the project, said: "People can either talk to someone to challenge their way of life or face up to their personal prejudices, or just use it as a way of finding out more about an interesting hobby."

Living Library sessions will be held in the Learning Zone on the first floor of the Central Library in Bradford on Wednesday, May 14, from 3pm to 7pm; Thursday, May 15, from 9.30am to 12.30pm; and on Saturday, May 17, from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

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