Living Library

Renison's Living Library

Want to learn about a culture? Challenge your own assumptions? 
Borrow a "Living Book" and meet a student from a country around the globe!

Join us for Living Library 2026!

🗓️ Tuesday, November 17
🕒 3:00pm - 5:00pm
📍 Renison Atrium

A Living Library event is an exciting chance to speak with a "Living Book" -- a student from a country/region around the globe -- and ask questions about their lived experiences in their home country. 

It is a safe and respectful opportunity to challenge your own assumptions or stereotypes about a culture. By participating, we hope participants will gain a stronger appreciation of the diversity within our campus community. 

Renison University College strives to foster a respectful living and learning environment for all. Our Living Library event is a venue for students to learn about life/cultures around the world while challenging their prejudices and assumptions. It is an opportunity for Renison to promote acceptance, celebrate differences, and encourage an understanding of the needs of our diverse community.

You will have the opportunity to select from Living Books who come from places around the globe and speak with as many individuals you like. There is a time limit of 15 minutes per conversation in order to allow opportunities for multiple people to speak with our Living Book volunteers. 

Okay, but how does it really work? 

At the event, student volunteers known as "Living Books" will be sitting at their own tables with a signboard that says their home country's name on it. Students will be able to sit down one-on-one at a table with a Living Book and ask questions about their home culture and country.  You will have a maximum of 15 minutes to speak with your Living Book before you move on to another table if you are interested. Don't worry - conversation starter questions will be available at the table if you don't know what to ask! 

Here's a step-by-step breakdown for how it will work:

  1. Attend the event on Tuesday, November 17 to participate and "borrow" a "Living Book". 
  2. Proceed to the check-in table at the event and let the “Living Librarians” know your name and would like to participate.
  3. Receive your Living Library card.
  4. Choose a country/region book that is listed as ‘available’ on the chart and let the Librarian know.
  5. You will be introduced to the book. You have 15 minutes to speak with the book. The timer will start immediately. There are conversation starter questions on the table if you do not know what to talk about.
  6. When you are finished, please return to the Living Librarian and let them know you have finished with your Book.
  7. You can select another book if you wish.
  8. Happy "reading"!

Our Past Living Library Events

Charles and Zayyan Living Library 2025
Living Library 2025
Living Library 2025
Share your culture board
Students talking at the Living Library event

A busy event! Lots of students gathered to enjoy the Living Library!

Two students talking

Charles and Tianyu have a great conversation about life in China!

Two students smiling

Mohammad shares his experiences (and treats) from Saudi Arabia!

Two students talking

Amin shares images and literature from Iran!

Two students talking

Diya and Rubee have a conversation about India!

students looking at photos

Jacky shares pictures of his hometown in China!

Living Library 2025

Are you interested in being a Living Book volunteer?

We'd love to have you join!

Are you interested in being a Living Book Volunteer?

We would love to have you join!

At the Living Library event, students have the chance to “borrow a Living Book”. As a Living Book, you would sit and talk one-on-one with someone else for a short 10-15 minute conversation. During the conversation, they will ask questions about you home country, region, and/or culture.

What happens when you are a Living Book?

What happens when you are a Living Book?

  • Participants at the event will come and sit at your table. Your home country or region will be shown at the table. 
  • Participants will have up to 15 minutes to have a conversation with you about your home country, region, and/or culture.
  • You will introduce yourself and share some introduction information about your home country or region (for example, what is your hometown, what is your hometown known for in your country, etc.). 
  • There will be conversation starter questions at the table if your participant does not know what to ask. 

As a Living Book, you can volunteer for a 1 hour or 2 hour commitment - it is your decision.

Want to apply to be a volunteer?

Agreement for participating in the Living Library include:

  • Respect for Living Books: We want to ensure that all Living Books are treated with the utmost courtesy and respect during the event. We encourage participants to ask questions they may find scary, embarrassing, and intimidating. However, it is imperative that they respect your boundaries. As a Living Book, you have the right to not answer any questions that make you feel uncomfortable. You reserve the right to end any conversation at your discretion.
  • Duration of loans: As a Living Book, you have a maximum of 15 minutes with each participant. You or the participant are welcome to end the conversation earlier.
  • What are we supposed to do together?: Living Books are encouraged to begin the conversation by sharing a little bit about yourself to the participant. Prompt questions will be provided for participants if they are unsure how to begin the conversation. You will approve these questions in advance to ensure you feel comfortable with the questions.
  • Referrals: At your station at the event, resources will be provided. Resources will include community pamphlets and referral information and also campus service referral information (i.e. Counselling Services, etc.).  If a participant appears to be distressed during the event (i.e. shares personal information, is upset/emotional over information you may share), we encourage you to access these resources at your table to refer students. If a participant appears to be distressed, you are also encouraged to solicit the support of the event coordinator (Owen Wu and Thalia Criollo Guerrero) for assistance.
  • Personal Support: As a Living Book, we want you to feel safe at all times. If at any time during the event you feel you need support, assistance or require a break, there is a private break room that all Living Books are welcomed to use. If you require the assistance of a Counsellor during the event, we will do our best to make these resources available.
  • Confidentiality: We request that any information that is shared by event participants remains private and confidential (i.e. a disclosure of a disability, mental health issue, etc.), with the exception of sharing any pertinent information with the event coordinators (i.e. a person who may cause harm to themselves or others).

Do you have questions before you register? 

Speak with:
Owen Wu
Manager, Student Experience
owen.wu@uwaterloo.ca
Office: REN 0209A

or

Thalia Criollo Guerrero
Student Experience Coordinator
tscrioll@uwaterloo.ca
Office: REN 1930

Let's Sign Up!

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Please list your program of study (BASE, EFAS, GOALS, Honours Arts, etc.)
Examples: China, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, etc.
When will you be available to volunteer for the Living Library on November 17?
What sort of things do you think are exciting, interesting, or unique about your home country that you would have knowledge about and want to talk about at the event? For example: interesting parts about your country or hometown's history, special customs or traditions, etc.
Do you agree to all of the conditions listed above to be a volunteer at the Living Library?