The phrase 'life is an open book' holds meaning at Lehman College as student volunteers share their experiences as part of the school's human library.

The volunteers become their own books and read about their experiences out loud at the Leonard Lief Library. Stories touch upon everything from cancer to immigration struggles. 

The way the human library works is the readers check out a book by listening and then ask questions. Rebecca Arzola, the librarian at Lehman College, says it's a way for people to engage in conversation and challenge stereotypes, prejudice and misunderstandings.

Human libraries have been popping up all over the world since the first one in Denmark in 2000. The one at Lehman is the first of its kind in New York City.