[LINK] Why hasn't someone thought of this before?

[rfmcdonald]

Caitrlin Moran in The Times of London on a Dutch library's innovative new scheme.

As chief librarian of Almelo public library in the Twente region of the Netherlands, Krol has introduced a scheme to "lend out", for 45 minutes at a time, people from minority groups, to discover more about their lives. So far on the books are Gypsies, gay men, asylum-seekers, lesbians, non-criminal drug addicts, Muslims, the handicapped and someone living on benefits in poverty. Krol is looking to add Islamic women in full burka and people who are HIV-positive. All will be available, subject to other commitments, to discuss their lives and beliefs over a coffee in the library's café.