The Librarian’s Guide to Bibliotherapy, Judit H. Ward and Nicholas A. Allred, ALA Editions, 2024. Softcover. 224p. 9780838936627. $49.99.

Abstract

Avid readers know the feeling of being emotionally affected by books, of seeing their experiences reflected in a way that helps them reach greater understanding, or of encountering new perspectives that help them cultivate empathy. Books can bring readers solace, inspiration, guidance, and even wisdom. The insight at the core of bibliotherapy is that these benefits are not confined to chance, private encounters between individual readers and their books. By choosing texts intentionally, providing context, or asking thought-provoking questions, clinicians can guide patients in deriving therapeutic value from the experience of reading.