When Stories Breathe: Living Books @ NIE

Books come alive at NIE Library on the afternoon of 4 September 2025. The event, Living Books@NIE, was organised by a team comprising staff from various departments, including: Psychology and Child & Human Development, Learning Sciences & Assessment, English Language and Literature, NIE Library and IN-Learning.

Readers step into a human library where real people are the books. Held in cosy settings in the Library, the readers engage with each "book" through questions and conversations, uncovering depth and making connections.

Read about the event through the eyes of the storytellers, event organisers and reader.

Navigating Loss, Connection and Shared Stories - perspective of a storyteller

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in Living Books@NIE, where I shared my journey of navigating loss and grief while balancing the demands of a part-time Master's degree and teaching full-time in a Singapore international school. Speaking about this deeply personal chapter reminded me how often stories of resilience are intertwined with the daily rhythm of life. 

My first session was small and intimate, with just two audience members. Our dialogue flowed seamlessly from grief and healing to the pressures and expectations of an Asian household.

We discovered we were all firstborn daughters, and this shared identity naturally shaped our conversation. It was a tender, authentic exchange, one that revealed how comfort and strength can emerge through shared experiences.

The session was not only about storytelling but also about genuine connection, emotional validation and a reminder that we are never truly alone in our journeys. 

Fareeshah Dawood Epeer

Everyone Has a Story - perspective of an organiser

“Every single day, another page is added, and as one book finishes, another one starts.”

Savi Sharma, Everyone Has a Story

I was delighted to be part of the Living Books@NIE. As a facilitator, it was rewarding to bring people together from across NIE to share their experiences and watch their stories unfold.

The event was based on the Human Library concept, where people become "books" and their stories become "chapters". I believe everyone carries a story worth sharing, and it was exhilarating to see these stories come alive through heartfelt conversations between storytellers and the audience. The atmosphere was warm and genuine, moving fluidly from laughter and joy to quiet reflection and even tears.

Each participant, whether a storyteller or an audience member, took away something uniquely personal. It was inspiring to witness people finding common threads and glimpses of their own stories within the stories of others.

Like books, our stories are ongoing, and sharing them helps us connect more deeply as a community, as one NIE.

Sarah Naomi

Full Circle: Listening, Sharing, Becoming - perspective of an organiser, storyteller and reader

I was part of the committee that planned the event alongside professors and classmates, and having done something similar in one of my Master's in Education classes, I was excited to participate. From brainstorming the concept to seeing it come to life, the journey was just as rewarding as the event itself.

When I was the storyteller, the audience's questions made me reflect on my life decisions which I initially thought would make me feel vulnerable, but instead, I felt empowered. It reinforced the power of communication: even when our actions seem small, they can resonate deeply with others and reflect strengths we hadn’t realised.

I was also an audience member for another storyteller. I chose his story because his path mirrored the path I wanted to take in the future. Listening to his perspective was just as powerful as sharing my own story. I was able to ask questions, connect with the storyteller, and learn how his experiences shaped his journey. Hearing his story reminded me that, despite our differences, and navigating our own unique paths, we share common challenges. It affirmed that every person carries a story worth telling, and that both speaker and audience hold equal meaning in the exchange.

We all carry regrets and joys, face trials and moments of doubt, but it’s how we rise, reflect, and overcome that shapes who we are.

Mahak