Reflecting the increased focus on library’s role in promoting health and wellness and connecting members of diverse communities, bibliotherapy-based reading programs have been gaining recognition as an effective means of improving individual and community well-being. Bibliotherapy, in a variety of its clinical and non-clinical (creative) applications supported by evidence-based research, has demonstrated its strong potential in building resilience and enhancing one’s ability to deal with life’s daily challenges and constant change. This interactive session will show various ways of integrating books and reading into informational and recreational library services to promote health and well-being and to combat social isolation. Participants will be provided with practical suggestions on how to develop, promote, facilitate and evaluate a bibliotherapy-based reading program that could be easily adapted to specific needs of various user groups in medical and public libraries. The opportunities for collaborative projects will be discussed.
Outcomes:
– Learn about existing applications of bibliotherapy that have been successfully integrated into public and medical library services.
– Gain the tools to develop, facilitate and evaluate a creative bibliotherapy-based library program.
– Learn how to promote bibliotherapy programs to stakeholders and to engage community partners into collaborative projects.
