A new presentation on Bibliotherapy which I designed from two previous PPTs. Made by Darrel Marco; presented and conducted at the Quezon City Public Library, 2016.

1. Bibliotherapy:
A tool in empowering out-of-school youth
Ms. Zarah Gagatiga
October 11, 2016
Quezon City Public Library

2. OBJECTIVES
• To be able to know the basics of
bibliotherapy to reach out to out-of-
school youth & other street children;
• To have professional guidance in
applying the techniques of
bibliotherapy

3. Links and Blocks
BIBLIOTHERAPY

4. Story Time!
• The Generous Tree an Adaptation from
Shel Silverstien’s classic story,
The Giving Tree
• Characters: a tree and a little boy
• Narrator

5. Briefly describe the two characters using
this table:
Hmmm… Let’s reflect!
The Tree The Little Boy

6. • Between the tree and the boy, who could you
relate with strongly?
• What similarities can you identify with to the
character of your choice?
• Think of a time in your life when you gave so
generously like the tree. How did you feel?
• Think of a time in your life when you were
generously been given like the boy. How did
you feel?
• Which is better: to be the giver or to be the
receiver? Support your answer.
Great job! Let’s ruminate some more.

7. Buzz group: Let’s talk!
• Small buzz group
• Big buzz group
• Take home activity:
Thank a person in your
life, a family member, a
friend or a colleague,
who has greatly helped
you.
What acts of love can
you show to others?

8. “I was the librarian's pet at my school - Miss Evelyn Diaz was
her name. I must have been nine? Eight? Twelve? I am of the
age now where the memory is all a blur. But I remember the
books. Towers of them! We were only allowed to borrow two
at a time but Miss Diaz kept some under the counter for me
and when nobody was looking stamped me through with
four, five, six in one go.”
“Miss Diaz made me feel special - like we shared between us
this golden treasure that noone else had access to in the
school. When I begged to add just one more book to the pile,
she was amazed and excited. When I brought the books
back, she was delighted that I had read them so quickly.”
Candy Gourlay, author of Shine
http://www.candygourlay.com/2010/11/i-was-librarians-pet-and-other.html

10. Bibliotherapy
• “The healing place for the soul”
- Inscription over the library of Thebes
• Greek words (Rubin, 1979)
– Biblion = books
– Therapeia = healing
 A technique of prescribing books to to patients who
need help in understanding their problems
(Crothers, 1916).

11. Bibliotherapy
• Is the assistance given to a youngster in
overcoming the emotional turmoil related to a
real-life problem by having him or her read
literature on the topic.
• Is the therapeutic use of the written word to help
people in any situation in life.
• Is the provision of health information and
support through books (Brewster, 2008)
• Guidance in the solution of personal problems
through directed reading (ALA, 1966)
• Encourages change with in the individual.

12. Bibliotherapy
• Clinical Bibliotherapy
is used by doctors
and mental health
practitioners with
persons on emotional
and behavioral
problems.
• Developmental
Bibliotherapy is used
with a wide variety of
individuals in schools and
libraries to promote self-
knowledge, personal
growth and a sense of
accomplishment in a
particular stage in life.

13. Tips to Developmental Bibliotherapy
• Recommend more than one
book/novel
• Recommend different types of books
• Know your collection
• Develop a diverse collection
• Encourage feedback
» Bibliotherapy, Power of Words

14. Tips to Developmental Bibliotherapy
• Recommend more than one
book/novel
• Recommend different types of books
• Know your collection
• Develop a diverse collection
• Encourage feedback
» Bibliotherapy, Power of Words

16. Librarians as Bibliotherapist
• Bibliotherapy is a treatment used by
information professionals to make
therapeutic use of selected reading
materials for clients and patrons
(Weaver, 1999)
• Bibliotherapy is the provision of health
information and support through books
(Brewster, 2008)

17. Librarians as Bibliotherapist
• The role of the librarian is an
intermediary…seeking to resolve patron’s
informational needs and wants (Ettinger,
2008 Library Journal).
• …a dedicated librarian can act as a
bibliotherapist and suggest some good
books for people suffering from depression,
blood pressure or cardiac problems
(Vyasamoorthy, 2009).

18. Librarians as Bibliotherapist
Librarians shall render impartial service
to all library users, regardless of their
race, beliefs, age, gender, or social
status.
Code of Ethics for Registered Librarians, Philippine
Librarianship Act of 2003

19. Librarians as Bibliotherapist
• Requirements
Personal stability
Genuine interest to
help others
Ability to empathize
without being
judgmental,
moralizing, didactic
Salup and Salup, 1978
• Areas of Concentration
Collaborative not
competitive
Careful planning
Deliberate provision and
access of books and
information
Literary merit of the
literature
Salup and Salup, 1978

20. The Bibliotherapy Journey
• 1st stage - IDENTIFICATION
• 2nd stage - CATHARSIS - involvement
and “mirroring”
• 3rd stage - INSIGHT - awareness and
realization of possible solutions

21. Process and Techniques
• Identifying needs
• Matching of appropriate materials
• Setting the time, venue and environment
of the session
• Designing motivation, engagement and
follow up activities
• Assisting the reader in achieving closure
or the identification of possible solutions

22. Process and Techniques (Pelias, 2005)
• READ - Nothing beats personal
knowledge of a story;
• Identify significant points of the story
that touches on the theme.
• Be keen to connections you know the
student/reader can make with the
selection at hand.

23. Requirements for a Bibliotherapy Program
• Training and Manpower
• Budget for the development of resources
and bibliotherapy collection
• A working knowledge of the library’s
client/readers
• Administrative and staff support
• Linkages and connections with health
care professionals and allied
fields/institutions

24. Booktalks and Chit-chats
• Recommended books for BPS
• And some movies too!
• Open Forum