I first remember bibliotherapy mentioned occasionally not during my M.L.I.S. program, but instead in professional, library-geared articles and via ALA and my state association discussion boards. Naturally, I Googled it when I started my first librarian position and discussed it with a few librarians who were familiar with bibliotherapy within public libraries. My colleagues’ opinions ranged from optimistic to concerned, and there was uncertainty regarding how to engage with bibliotherapy while lacking proper training in mental health, working with people who are homeless, and crisis intervention.

Bibliotherapy “refers to the use of reading and writing for managing wellbeing, facilitating self-development, and providing psychological support” (from the excellent resource Bibliotherapy: Reading and Writing for Wellbeing). Much of the scholarly and professional literature I have read draws from the fields of psychology, public health, and social work. Bibliotherapy offers an approach to working through mental health disorders—including depression, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety—through reading. Liverpool John Moores University has an extensive book list as an example. According to a 2023 article in Public Library Quarterly, “[B]ibliotherapy includes the systematic use of books to assist individuals in coping with mental, emotional, physical or social issues.”     

The connection among reading, empathy building, exploration of our world, and finding compassion for yourself is likely obvious for those of us who work in libraries. Reading regularly, exploring new genres, and using your local libraries all support this form of escapism. It has long been that way for me, as I grew up in a small, rural, Southern community. However, bibliotherapy, or reading therapy as it was called often in the mid-1980s into the early 1990s, requires an understanding of counseling, social health, and literature as a tool. I eagerly sought to write this article on bibliotherapy because there is much that we, as information professionals, can learn about employing books as a form of therapy. An Introduction to Bibliotherapy is a great overview with references.

Like related library customer service experiences, bibliotherapy blurs the lines among social worker, therapist, confidant, and librarian. My concern for librarians, library workers, and their patrons is the lack of education, training, and supportive colleagues to assist in this quite intimate and personalized therapy work. When used in combination with more traditional forms of therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and, perhaps, psychotropic medications, bibliotherapy has a significant capability to further support those living with mental health disorders and/or working through intense life crises. Psychology Today offers an interesting psychology perspective on bibliotherapy.

I reached out to a colleague and friend who researches trauma, trauma intervention, and the gap between research and practice, as well as mindfulness. He is involved with excellent and highly relevant work. Bibliotherapy is a relatively new area for him as well and is lacking in the curriculum at his school. But he, like me, finds encouragement to continue this conversation with, perhaps, interdisciplinary courses for M.L.I.S. and social welfare students, as well as workshops and similar trainings for those already working within libraries. The capacity is great—for librarians, library workers, our patrons, and our communities. I look forward to sharing more of my discussions and research with my college’s School of Social Welfare colleagues. As we know, libraries are already pushed more and more into providing social services for our communities. Let’s focus on and engage more with education, support, and collaboration.