‘Don't judge a book by its cover'. It's a well-known adage and the message at the heart of the Wright Family Foundation.

Now the local not-for-profit organisation is putting the metaphor into action – literally – by hosting a Human Library event at the upcoming Escape! Festival in Tauranga.

This unique event in June, sees everyday Kiwis become ‘books' available for ‘loan' in a ‘library' – the library in this case being Baycourt's Addison Theatre.

Just as you would go to a library to check out a title, to learn and explore a whole new world within its pages, so too will you learn and discover eye-opening stories through real-life conversation with these ‘books'.

The goal is to start discussion, to challenge stereotypes, find out about how the other half lives or bond over your similarities.

The Human Library is designed to be a safe and positive space, in which ‘readers' can have meaningful conversations with people they might not have otherwise met.

With each ‘book' available from 10am-2pm at Baycourt, you'll get a chance to ‘check out' the faces behind the stories and get to know them through a one-on-one conversation.

This unique approach is something founder of the Wright Family Foundation, Chloe Wright, believes is essential to building strong communities, and is excited about putting the concept of the foundation's TV initiative ‘People Matter' into action through the Human Library.

'How often do we get the chance to actually talk, face-to-face, with someone about real-life issues? 'It's about asking those questions that get to the heart of who someone is, without judging them on appearance.”

Escape! Festival's associate director Claire Mabey is thrilled to be bringing such a diverse and thought-provoking programme.

'The Human Library is an interactive project that allows a one-on-one experience with people who will inspire you on a truly human level.”

For more information, click here.