Bibliotherapy Christine Cather MSc Dissertation To Every Reader Her Book : Creating bibliotherapy for women

Key points Research outline Overview of current UK situation Good practice in UK and US 2006 UK Recommendations Current Developments Beyond Words Future Possibilities

Bibliotherapy definitions What do you think of these? “ A program of activity based on the interactive processes of media and the people who experience it. Print or non-print material, either imaginative or informational is experienced and discussed with the aid of a facilitator.” (Rubin, 1978) “the use of selected reading materials as therapeutic adjuvants in medicine and psychiatry; also, guidance in the solution of personal problems through directed reading” (ALA, 1978). “reading as a healing therapy (Whalen, 2005)

Research Aim for Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL) to focus on creative bibliotherapy models Survey of Glasgow Women’s Library users and Survey of Providers Scoping of bibliotherapy models in UK, US and Canada Exploring definitions of bibliotherapy and the process of change

Research Results – Provider and User Surveys The user community would choose the following elements: Both Fiction and Non-fiction Both Librarian and Counsellor Group setting Women-only group Creative writing Themes Provider results were less helpful due to a low response rate Reading and You (RAYS) creative model replied with practical tips e.g. funds linked to Art Therapy sector Books on Prescription (BOP) schemes showed NHS funding for schemes but needs for closer collaboration between librarians and health professionals, e.g. To convince health workers of the values of reading

Good Practice UK Reading and You – Calderdale and Kirklees. Promotion of reading as a social and community activity to reduce social isolation and promote friendship RAYS provides both one-to-one and group sessions. Discussion is essential. This is especially useful for those people with literacy needs or visual impairments. Get Into Reading – Liverpool.This model offers ”inclusive and intense reading experiences for people of all ages, abilities and educational backgrounds. Read-aloud reading groups can help create community.”(Davis)

Good Practice US Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries and College of Education Bibliotherapy Education Project Joseph Gold Change Lives Through Literature

2006 UK Recommendations Hicks and Maloney Joining up the best practice of creative bibliotherapy models to the self-help models. Arts Council England to raise the profile of the creative approaches. The clinical self-help/medical evaluation must be organised as it is dispersed. Further research is also required in the psychotherapeutic process of reading and the transformative nature of the event that occurs. The creative bibliotherapy approach has a training gap at present Training for professional librarians/information staff in the self-help healing model and in creative bibliotherapy practice is required. A national focus/strategy for libraries for the continuing development and evaluation of bibliotherapy in the UK. MLA support for ongoing development a quality service for the Books on Prescription model. A role for the Reading Agency.

Current developments ‘Get Into Reading’ leading a national focus and strategy on Training in creative models Evaluating and developing bibliotherapy in UK ‘The Healthy Option’ Conference 2007 JISCMAIL Bibliotherapy list and Wiki ArtFull Conference ‘Making it Visible’ Lapidus and Poetry Therapy Compiling reading list Storytelling Writing

Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2007 Any women interested in the therapeutic possibilities and links between writing, gender and mental health. A forum of women writers and therapists discussed how writing and reading can be used as a creative therapeutic technique What texts have triggered changes in mental health in writers, therapists and readers? Beyond Words

Future possibilities? More research is required – evaluation; reading lists; how reading cures you? Training Funding sources Library and information professionals to take bibliotherapy forward? Scottish connection – should we develop a Bibliotherapy group or website?