Printers Row Lit Fest To Feature 'Human Library'

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Many authors will be speaking at this weekend's Printer's Row Lit Fest in the South Loop and some "books" also will be speaking out.

It's an event called "Human Library Chicago," and features people posing as books to tell their life story.

"People will sit down with the volunteers for about 20 minutes if that book is really popular and others want to people want to talk with that 'title.' Otherwise if there's no one waiting the conversation can go as long as the participant and the volunteer want to talk," organizer Marlena Johnson said.

The "human books" include people battling substance abuse, who are H-I-V positive, and who have Autism.

"They're all volunteering with the aim to dispel stereotypes that come along with their book title," Johnson said.

The Human Library will hold its first-ever event in Chicago at the 2014 Printers Row Lit Fest on Saturday and Sunday.

The library, which originated in Denmark in 2000, is designed to break the barriers that separate people by enabling dialogue. Individuals from typically marginalized groups act as human books. Participants in the event can "read" these books through speaking with them one-on- one about their life experiences.