How libraries can support community health and wellbeing through bibliotherapy

CHICAGO — Bibliotherapy programs can now be found in libraries all over the world, from public libraries to health/hospital libraries and academic libraries. In their new book “Bibliotherapy,” published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, Liz Brewster and Sarah McNicol draw on the latest international practical and theoretical developments in bibliotherapy to explore how libraries can best support the health and wellbeing of their communities.

This book encompasses all aspects of "bibliotherapy" in its widest sense, starting with a critical historical overview of bibliotherapy, followed by an explanation of theories or approaches to bibliotherapy. The book explains how various bibliotherapy models work by drawing on practical examples to demonstrate how the theories behind bibliotherapy can be applied in practice. Case studies include a range of settings (public library, academic library, outpatient, inpatient); populations (including young people, ESOL speakers, psychiatric patients, homeless people, people with dementia and their caregivers); and countries (UK, North America, South America, Australia).

Brewster is a lecturer at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, UK. Her research focuses on experiences of mental health and wellbeing, and particularly on how creative activities such as reading may affect mental health. She has previously worked in academic and public libraries. McNicol is a research associate at the Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. She has worked as an Information Studies researcher since 2000 and has published widely in the information studies field. She has guest edited several journals, including Library Review and Library Trends.

Facet Publishing, the commercial publishing and bookselling arm of CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, is the leading publisher of books for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide. Contact us at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5052 or editionsmarketing@ala.org.