CHICAGO — Emely Rumble, LICSW, a distinguished licensed clinical social worker, school social worker, and seasoned biblio/psychotherapist with over 15 years of professional experience, is set to open the Recharging in Challenging Times: ALA Virtual Event on February 10, 2026.
Committed to making mental health services more accessible, Rumble specializes in the transformative practice of bibliotherapy. She is passionate about advocating for the integration of creative arts in psychotherapy, mental well-being, and self-improvement. She champions the social model of disability and embraces a neurodiversity-affirming therapeutic approach. Her work has been featured in respected publications such as Parents Magazine, School Library Journal, Dazed Magazine, Success Magazine, BronxNet News, The Bronx is Reading, Essence Magazine, CNN Health, The New York Times, Bustle Wellness, and Therapy for Black Girls, among others. Her debut book, “Bibliotherapy in the Bronx,” released in April 2025, explores the modality of literature-based therapy in healing practice. Learn more on her website.
Rumble's keynote presentation, “When the World Feels Heavy, Reach for a Story: Bibliotherapy for Radical Tenderness and Collective Resilience,” will take place at 10:00 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. CST.
Library workers across the globe are carrying an extraordinary emotional load while supporting patrons in crisis, navigating censorship and political tension, and holding space for communities living through grief, uncertainty, and change. Rumble will explore how the healing power of story can sustain both patrons and the people who serve them. Attendees will learn simple bibliotherapy tools to bring steadiness, connection, and hope into their daily work while honoring their own inner lives. This keynote affirms libraries as vital healing ecosystems and reminds us that when the world feels heavy, stories can help us carry the weight together.
For event updates, visit Recharging in Challenging Times: An ALA Virtual Event and follow ALA on BlueSky, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.
Members of the media interested in attending may contact the ALA Communications and Media Office at cmomedia@ala.org.
