1. Laura Loveday

2. • Biblia = book; Therapia = healing
• “The use of reading materials for help in solving
personal problems or for psychiatric
therapy; also : the reading materials so used” 1
• Beginning of the 20th century saw bibliotherapy in
settings other than mental health institutions
• American Library Association formed its first
committee on bibliotherapy in 1939
1. Bibliotherapy. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bibliotherapy

3. • Clinical vs. developmental
• Self-help, creative, or informal
• Commonly used with those recovering from
addictions, grieving, depression, abuse, and
trauma or PTSD
• May be individual, with the use of a treatment
team, or with a reading group

4. • Book talks for young adults through
contemporary realistic fiction
• Set up library displays for collections
• Research authors before recommending their
material for therapy
• Suggest prescription reading pads for clinicians
• Build relationships with therapists and clinicians
in the hospital/institution or local community

5. • Lack of guidelines for its use
• Concern over unqualified librarians performing a
diagnosis or providing treatment
• Misinformation in material
• May “do more harm than good”

6. • Nonfiction books should be evidence-based
• Reading comprehension and interests must be
considered
• Recommendations should be personalized and
may be evaluated with other health care
professionals

7. With effective and careful bibliotherapy, health
science libraries “can vicariously help to resolve
troubling issues or hidden feelings in an effective
yet harmless way.” 2
2. Brewster L. Reader development and mental wellbeing: the accidental
bibliotherapist. Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services. 2009; 22(1): 13-16.