Introduction
One of the many definitions of circulation is: the continuous motion by which the blood travels through all parts of the body under the action of the heart. It is also the term in which libraries refer to the movement of materials in and out of the hands of patrons seeking information. With the analogy of the library as a living organism, librarians would be the heart that pumps the blood, or library materials, through the metaphorical body, or the community served. One cannot work without the other. The significance of library materials is paramount to our job, as librarians.
Bibliotherapy is the use of books, both non-fiction and fiction, to provide health or medical support for psychological, and sometimes physical, ailments. This idea is not new by any means. In fact, it is quite ancient. In his article, “Souls in Jeopardy: Questions and Innovations for Bibliotherapy with Fiction,” Jonathan Detrixhe points out that many authors on the subject, “commonly quote an inscription from the lintel of an ancient greet library” that decrees itself “the healing place of the soul” (2010, 58). As bibliotherapy deals with the healing nature of books, it only makes sense for librarians to be, at the very least, aware of the practices and strategies used when employing bibliotherapy. It is my hope that by understanding the basics and even implementing some of the techniques, that incorporating aspects of bibliotherapy into library services, especially in regards to readers’ advisory, will only add value to the library.
This website was created as a project for the Spring Semester 2014 Readers' Advisory Services course in the Library and Information Studies Graduate program at Dominican University under the tutelage of Professor Bill Crowley. It is my intention that this website serve as a resource for librarians to learn about bibliotherapy and its implications within the library and its services.
Lauren Hilty
Graduate Student, Library and Information Science
Dominican University
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact me at:
[email protected]
Bibliotherapy is the use of books, both non-fiction and fiction, to provide health or medical support for psychological, and sometimes physical, ailments. This idea is not new by any means. In fact, it is quite ancient. In his article, “Souls in Jeopardy: Questions and Innovations for Bibliotherapy with Fiction,” Jonathan Detrixhe points out that many authors on the subject, “commonly quote an inscription from the lintel of an ancient greet library” that decrees itself “the healing place of the soul” (2010, 58). As bibliotherapy deals with the healing nature of books, it only makes sense for librarians to be, at the very least, aware of the practices and strategies used when employing bibliotherapy. It is my hope that by understanding the basics and even implementing some of the techniques, that incorporating aspects of bibliotherapy into library services, especially in regards to readers’ advisory, will only add value to the library.
This website was created as a project for the Spring Semester 2014 Readers' Advisory Services course in the Library and Information Studies Graduate program at Dominican University under the tutelage of Professor Bill Crowley. It is my intention that this website serve as a resource for librarians to learn about bibliotherapy and its implications within the library and its services.
Lauren Hilty
Graduate Student, Library and Information Science
Dominican University
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact me at:
[email protected]