The saying ‘everyone has a story to tell’ will come alive this week as Wānaka Library hosts two days of Living Stories – personal tales told by real people.

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) assistant librarian Eve Marshall‐Lea said the aim of the events, which will take place on Friday and Saturday (September 23 and 24), is to strengthen community connection through storytelling.

“We’re loaning out living audio books – real humans! – who will share their own inspiring stories on subjects including physical and personal journeys, living tiny, conservation, food security and overcoming life’s challenges,” she said.

“This isn’t just about listening – there’ll be opportunities for people to engage with the storytellers which isn’t something you can do with a normal audio book.”

Living Stories at Wānaka Library is suitable for anyone aged 16 and over and there is no cost to attend. 

“To keep it an intimate experience for everyone we’re limiting tickets to three per story session,” Eve said. “It’s completely free to come along but advanced booking is essential to secure your spot.”

The concept of living stories, also known as human libraries or living libraries, are popular around the world and Eve says they have many benefits.

Among other things, they create a space for community connection and to listen to another person tell their story: “Oral story-telling is very powerful, particularly when difficult or challenging topics are being discussed,” Eve said. 

The Living Stories sessions will run between 4.00‐7.10pm on both Friday and Saturday with each lasting 30 minutes.

Topics include ‘a life of conservation’, ‘the story of a Mexican in New Zealand’, ‘health and wellness with natural medicine’ and many more.

Full details of speakers, story topics and how to book can be found on the QLDC Libraries website here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App