Mind the Gap: Do Librarians Understand Service User Perspectives on Bibliotherapy?

Abstract

Article:Brewster, L., Sen, B.A. and Cox, A.M. (2013) Mind the gap: do librarians understand service user perspectives on bibliotherapy? Library Trends, 61 (3). pp. 569-586.eprints@whiterose.ac.uk https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Reuse Unless indicated otherwise, fulltext items are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. The copyright exception in section 29 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 allows the making of a single copy solely for the purpose of non-commercial research or private study within the limits of fair dealing. The publisher or other rights-holder may allow further reproduction and re-use of this version -refer to the White Rose Research Online record for this item. Where records identify the publisher as the copyright holder, users can verify any specific terms of use on the publisher's website. TakedownIf you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing eprints@whiterose.ac.uk including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. Mind the Gap: Do Librarians Understand Service User Perspectives on Bibliotherapy?Liz Brewster, Barbara Sen, and Andrew Cox Abstract Bibliotherapy schemes aim to improve mental health and well-being. Schemes focus on engagement with either imaginative literature or self-help texts and are now commonplace in U.K. public libraries. Impetus for bibliotherapy schemes was influenced by health policy and a drive toward partnership working. There is a recognized need for in-depth evaluation of bibliotherapy services; the lack of evaluation is problematic, as the schemes are designed without reference to service user perspectives. There is a need to identify and analyze usage to assess effectiveness of the schemes. Drawing on data from interviews and focus groups with library and health professionals and service users, this article explores the service provider and service user perspective on bibliotherapy schemes. It concludes that-for service providers-there is a lack of clarity and understanding about how bibliotherapy works, and this impacts on the experience of service users. While service providers and service users share a common goal of improving mental health and well-being, their understandings of bibliotherapy differ, meaning there is a potential gap between service provision and service user needs. The article concludes that in-depth research influenced by user-centered design principles, may help to improve services in practice.

Creative practice as mutual recovery in mental health

“…Eakin, 2003;Grant et al, 2012;Grant et al, in press;Moya, 2009;Rofe, 2009;Rudick, 2011;Scotti, 2009;Staricoff, 2004;Stickley et al, 2007) and bibliotherapy (in the widest sense of reading as a therapeutic or health benefitting activity) on health, including mental health and social wellbeing within recovery based contexts (e.g. Aldridge and Dutton, 2009;Brewster, 2007;Brown, 2009;Canadian Council on Learning, 2007;Davis, Tomkins and Roberts, 2008; Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2009;Dugdale and Clark, 2008;Frieswijk et al, 2006;Hicks, Creaser et al, 2010;Hodge, Robinson and Davis, 2007).…”

Programas de aplicação da biblioterapia no Reino Unido

“…Assim, muito embora a prática atual de biblioterapia no Reino Unido se dê, predominantemente, em bibliotecas públicas, algumas das abordagens utilizadas trazem grande benefício para pacientes em hospitais e são aplicadas por bibliotecários hospitalares, em associação com profissionais médicos (Brewster, 2009). Desde 2001 programas de biblioterapia vêm sendo oferecidos nas bibliotecas públicas do Reino Unido (Brewster et al, 2013) e são tipicamente administrados em parceria entre bibliotecas públicas e os provedores do sistema de saúde: "Pesquisas revelam que os profissionais da informação têm papel significativo em liderar e administrar os programas" (Brewster et al, 2012, p.186, tradução nossa). Ainda de acordo com os autores, o foco desses programas é prover acesso a materiais selecionados, que terão um impacto positivo nas condições de saúde mental e bem-estar em geral (Brewster et al, 2013).…”

Information prescriptions, 1930–2013: an international history and comprehensive review

“…A few of the studies published by librarians noted barriers to physician participation [1,2,17,67,89,98,99], In some cases, researchers inappropriately ap plied high-level statistical analysis designed for large randomized controlled trials to small convenience samples.…”

“…Brewster produced a body of research starting with her master's thesis [11] about public library staff perspectives of the NHS Books on Prescription program [12,98]. In one theoretical study, she applied actor-network theory (a longitudinal study of how people, ideas, and things are connected) to the Welsh Books on Prescription pilot program.…”