Quiet, please! The library is talking to you

updated 7:30 p.m. ET Oct. 17, 2008

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - You know those people you can read just like a book?

Well, on Saturday you will be able to borrow one of them when Santa Monica turns its main library into a "Living Library."

Fourteen "living books" will be on hand in this trendy, liberal city, representing an encyclopedia of knowledge on such subjects as nudism, Buddhism and foodism. That's because one of them is a real, live nudist, two are Buddhists and another is a vegan.

Library visitors will be allowed to "check out" any of the 14 people for up to 30 minutes. The hope is that library patrons will learn something about the culture and beliefs of other people, erasing stereotypes in the process.

"A personal conversation breaks down barriers and connects two strangers who might not otherwise have the opportunity to speak to each other," said Rachel Foyt, an administrative analyst at the Santa Monica Public Library.

Want to know what it's like to be homeless? There will be a couple of folks who can speak volumes about it. What are celebrities really like? Ask the celebrity publicist. What are Oaxacan-Americans like? Ask the person whose roots are in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (wah-HAH-ka).

Shhh! Quiet please
This being a library, the talking books will have to do their talking outside in the courtyard, or in study rooms, so they won't disturb readers.

People who can't finish in 30 minutes may book another session if no one else has placed a hold on the person. Patrons who return their living book late won't be fined, but Foyt said the library may revoke the souvenir T-shirt they get for taking part.

The idea was thought up by a group of young people in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the 1990s after one of their friends was stabbed during a night out. Since then, Living Libraries have brought people of different backgrounds together in numerous countries.

"Everyone wants to know if the nudist will be wearing clothes," Foyt said with a laugh. (Sorry, yes, he will be.)

There won't be any bra-burning by the feminist, either. That went out in the 1970s, said Lindsey Horvath, the 26-year-old president of the Hollywood chapter of the National Organization for Women. But Horvath said she is surprised at how many people still cling to that image.

"Something I frequently encounter is that people feel that we're of a previous generation," she said. "Or we're really angry or not part of the mainstream culture or we all hate men. I couldn't be more different than that. I'm originally a Midwest American. My family's Catholic and I taught catechism at my church."

Beware of fines
Margaret Oakley will be there with some of her favorite vegan recipes, in part to show meat-eaters that she doesn't really hate them.

Lesleigh Owen will be there too. She is a self-proclaimed "fat activist," who stands up for the rights of plus-size people. She concludes her e-mails with a quote from the Muppets' Miss Piggy: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

Not that any trouble is expected Saturday. But just to make sure, library officials are issuing a set of rules borrowers must agree to:

"The reader must return the book in the same mental and physical condition as borrowed. It is forbidden to cause damage to the book, tear out or bend pages, get food or drink spilled over the book or hurt her or his dignity in any other way."

More from msnbc.com Easing job losses point to wobbly recovery Cars are approaching ‘auto’ pilot mode Were you paying attention? Take our news quiz  Facebook’s fantasy games cost more than time How readers got pieces of Berlin Wall | Gallery  Not supposed to worry about troops at home On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM EDUCATION

Education Section Front

Newsweek: The fight over abstinence at Harvard Failure 101: A class students could use Are rankings unfair to U.S. higher ed? Obama uses money to urge school changes Ranks of millionaire college presidents up again Community college plan may not be enough Education Section Front   Add Education headlines to your news reader: