Bibliotherapy: How Public Libraries can Support their Communities’ Mental Health

Abstract

Bibliotherapy is the act of reading a book to aid a mental illness. Although bibliotherapy is commonly practiced in a controlled study, it should be expanded and implemented into public libraries in a way that the public can take bibliotherapy into their own hands. In this paper, bibliotherapy’s effectiveness is looked at through both psychology tests, and online public opinion. Also, its execution in public libraries is discussed, and better ways to implement bibliotherapy are suggested through articles. Overall, public libraries can take an active role in their community’s mental health by providing them tools in the way of books to allow them to explore, understand, and potentially better their emotions or actions.