Silly distraction from Katrina 3: Library lends out people

An amusing tidbit from London's Telegraph:

Library that lets you take out people who are left on the shelf -- David Rennie

A public library in Holland has been swamped with queries after unveiling plans to "lend out" living people, including homosexuals, drug addicts, asylum seekers, gypsies and the physically handicapped. The volunteers will be borrowed by users of the library who can take them to the library cafeteria, and ask them any questions they like for up to an hour.

The people-lending scheme was conceived as a local project by library director Jan Krol, to encourage the burghers of bourgeois Almelo to make contact with members of ethnic minorities and other marginalised members of society. "It has caused a lot of interest, a lot of people have already called with questions like: do I need a library card?" said Mr Krol. Borrowers of people will not need a card, he said, though one will remain necessary for more prosaic items, such as books. There will be no fines for returning people late, he added.

Pictures and short bios of these people will be up in the library and on its website. "Most meetings will last 45 minutes. You can ask anything you like, but racist or strong language is not allowed. To avoid unpleasantness, all meetings must take place in the library café." Mr Krol, who said he was inspired by a similar scheme in Sweden, has already filled many of his volunteer slots. "I've got several gay men, a couple of lesbian women, a couple of Islamic volunteers, I've got a physically handicapped woman, and a woman who has been living on social security benefits for many years in real poverty."