Every avid reader has probably wished at some point that they could sit down and have a conversation with a character from their favorite book.

The Human Library tries to do that by having “human books” that people can “check out,” hear their story and ask questions.

The Sterling Heights Library had its third annual Human Library event on April 23 featuring eight human books.

“It is all about breaking down stereotypes that exist because you are actually sitting down and having a conversation with someone who may be vastly different from you,” said Sterling Heights Community Relations Director Melanie Davis. “They might think differently, look differently or have a different life experience or background.”

The idea for the reader is to learn something about someone who is different from them while giving the human book an opportunity to share their story.

Eight books were available for conversation at the event including an atheist, a Chaldean woman, neurodiverse individual, an immigrant, and a transgender person.

Each reader had an opportunity to sit with one of the books for 15 minutes and ask questions and hear their story. Keeping the 15 minute limit gave readers a chance to experience more than one book throughout the course of the evening.

“Every year we get about eight books, some that are returning and some that are new,” said Davis. “We are trying to build compassion and understanding throughout the community.”

The Human Library Organization non-profit started in Denmark and was branded there and now is a worldwide program that hosts activities in more than 80 countries. The Sterling Heights Library licenses the brand out of the parent company in order to have the event.

“Every question is expected, appreciated and answered so it is like a no holds barred ask me anything situation,” said Davis. “There is no judgement either way.”

Laura Fluke is the neurodiverse book and tells her story of being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, then finding out that she is considered to be a highly sensitive person and also is experiencing extreme post traumatic stress disorder.

As three “readers” listened, she told her story of learning not only to navigate her neurodiversity but to embrace it and to use her intuitive skills to help others Readers asked questions to which she gave thoughtful and eloquent answers.

At another table, I. Susan Kattula tells her story of being a Chaldean woman, working to break the stereotypes of her culture and explaining some of her challenges coming to America from Iraq.

“This is to create awareness and understanding in the community,” said Annelisse White, library public relations and program coordinator. “It is celebrating the diversity in this community because we are so diverse.”

White said the library tries to choose human books that are related to subjects about which most people do not have vast knowledge.

“I think like any book that you read, you are going to learn something when you come to the human library,” White said.