SCHOOL LIBRARIES WORLDWIDE

Volume 6, Number 2, July 2000

Theme: School Library Education

Bibliotherapy in School Libraries: An Israeli Experiment [PDF file]
Shifra Baruchson-Arbib
The concept of bibliotherapy has been known since ancient times. Despite the concept's direct connection to books and libraries and despite its potential as a means of support and aid, it has not attained a clear status in library science. The therapeutic nature of bibliotherapy does not allow its full application in libraries, but the author suggests focusing on the developmental aspect of bibliotherapy and defining it with anew term: supportive knowledge. An experiment to implement these ideas was carried out in two schools in Israel by building a special self-help section in the libraries. There was an increase in reading, mainly among boys. The pupils were interested in books that represented their own personal problems, such as teenage dilemmas, drugs, sex, death, and violence. They began to discuss these issues openly among themselves and with the librarians. In addition, a close collaboration was created between the school administration, the teachers, and the librarians.

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Last updated 24 March 2009 (KSB)