Debbie Hicks, Research and Strategy Director for The Reading Agency and freelance
This presentation presents the key findings of recent research commissioned by
Arts Council England and The Museums Libraries and Archives Council auditing
bibliotherapy/BOP activity in England. It presents an analysis of key trends
as well as successes, challenges and gaps in the field. The presentation ends
with a brief summary of the main challenges facing the development of reading
and health activity as well as the benefits emerging from this area of health
care intervention. It also presents a set of key recommendations to take work
forward in this area.
Neil Frude, Cardiff and Vale NHS
The majority of adults with mental health problems are treated exclusively
in the primary care context. Resource limitations mean that treatment is usually
pharmacological, despite the fact that psychological treatment would often
be the treatment of choice. This paper presents an innovative book prescription
scheme that provides a way of offering a form of psychological therapy to the
majority of adults who present in primary care with mild or moderate mental
health problems. A bibliotherapy scheme has been running in Cardiff since March
2003, involving close collaboration between secondary and primary care, and effective
collaboration between the NHS and local government (via the library service).
The Cardiff scheme has now been taken over by a national (all Wales) scheme - ‘Book
Prescription Wales’ and similar schemes have now been implemented in
over 60 regions of the UK, with many more in active development. It is argued
that such schemes are not only highly cost-effective but can be cost-saving.
In line with current enthusiasm for increased patient self-monitoring and self-management,
schemes such as this could represent an important strategy for facilitating
more effective patient self-care across many areas of mental and physical health.
Jane Davis, Get into Reading
Reading for pleasure is like exercise. You could go for a walk around the block you’ve walked around for years, or you could get the kit and the training and the guide and go up Everest – sometimes starting on some gentle nursery slopes, sometimes setting right off. Yes, it’s hard – but the pleasure in tackling something difficult may be much greater than taking the comfortably known easy route, especially when you are not doing it alone.
Janet Baylis , Assistant Reference Librarian, Adult & Community Services, Suffolk
Suffolk County Council and the then Ipswich Primary Care Trust worked together
on a pilot project from 2004-5. This involved lists of about 33 titles
and 8 collections of books in 6 libraries in Ipswich. The books were “prescribed” by
health practitioners and records kept through a manual system.
More recently and excitingly, Books on Prescription is to go county wide under
the more explanatory title “Books on Mental Health and Relationships” with
some radical changes to the way the system will be run. The new scheme
will sit well within the framework of some major health projects that are being
developed across Suffolk.
Fiona Mullany, Evidence Base UCE Birmingham
Using books in a group or individual self help context to support or extend a personal change programme can be extremely helpful, however there are important practical considerations that should be taken into account. The nature of the issues handled and the background of the group members will have a critical impact on the outcome of the intervention. In this session we will look at the best ways to ensure that both the selection of the text and the manner in which it is presented and managed are successful.
Steve Lack, Information Services Manager Camden Libraries
Books on Prescription was launched in January 2006 as a partnership between Camden Library Service and Camden Primary Care Trust. New ways of thinking and working were required on both sides to make it work. Now we have more than a year’s experience, how has it worked, at partnership level and for library staff, health professionals and... patients cum library members. Emphasis of this talk is on the practical issues of getting the service running and used.
David Chamberlain, Community Outreach and Lead Librarian, Alexandra Health Library Alexandra Hospital
The presentation “Information Prescriptions: A broad perspective” outlines a working initiative in the West Midlands. A group was set up to collate evidence for the practical delivery of Bibliotherapy and Information Prescription. A literature search was conducted and in addition projects that had used Bibliotherapy were also contacted and practical advice recorded. These findings were summarised and presented in a final document that has been submitted for publication.
The presentation covers definitions, drivers and a summary of findings and recommendations for practice and research. There is clear evidence for the use of Bibliotherapy for specific disorders and population groups as a cost effective treatment. However there are gaps in research, but these are acknowledged and further areas of research recommended.
Elizabeth Schlenther, www.healthybooks.org.uk.
Most children respond to books, and when problems arise - health, behavioural or emotional - stories and information books can provide comfort, solace and understanding. But finding the right book for the right child at the right time presents a challenge. Parents, teachers, doctors and nurses, social workers and others can use reading with children as a form of therapy and as a basis for discussion. Books can be a catalyst, a source of information, or simply a means of 'inwardly digesting' possible solutions to problems. Whatever they are to a particular child, they should always be a source of pleasure and inspiration.
Liz McGettigan , Library and Information Services Manager, Community Services East Renfrewshire Council
Health is affected by everyday life and is as much about the quality of people’s emotional and social situations as it is about their experience of disease and disability. Social, economic and environmental factors all interact and impact on health and well being. This presentation explores how libraries make a major contribution.
Clare Lavis, MLA South East
It was the launch of the Big Lottery Health & Well-being programmes last year that triggered a bid that would potentially bring together Books on Prescription, bibliotherapy and health information as national library projects for 5 years. This presentation will look the project inspiration, its growth, the knock backs and the future.