bibliotherapy: how teens are using the library to educate themselves on life issues jeff schreiber...
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Bibliotherapy: How Teens are Using the Library to Educate Themselves on
Life Issues
Jeff SchreiberGermantown High School
WEMTA 2015
http://tinyurl.com/biblio2015
Is this bibliotherapy?
How about this?
What is the “official” definition of bibliotherapy?
O "The use of books selected on the basis of content in a planned reading program designed to facilitate the recovery of patients suffering from mental illness or emotional disturbance. Ideally, the process occurs in three phases: personal identification of the reader with a particular character in the recommended work, resulting in psychological catharsis, which leads to rational insight concerning the relevance of the solution suggested in the text to the reader's own experience. Assistance of a trained psychotherapist is advised." --bibliotherapy in ODLIS, Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science.
Unofficially:
Harnessing the power of a book to connect with its reader in personal ways
Benefits of Bibliotherapy O Promote personality growthO Promote emotional and social developmentO Relieve anxiety of having problems or being differentO Allow kids to feel they are not aloneO The old Atticus Finch motto of being able to see things from
another’s point of viewO Help kids be productive problem solvers instead of emotional over-
reactors (R&J)O Educate and provide information to kids about a personal/private
issue they may be afraid to confrontO Stimulate discussion “How did they handle the issue? Do you
agree?”O Allow friends to use this as a tool for friend they may be mentoringO Understand issues with parents or siblings
MotivationsO Rise of PTSDO Recent high profile suicides and death by substance abuse in
newsO Ever present desire and societal pressure to “look good”O People with these issues often go about quiet and afraid to
confront them. Many of these are regulars in the library.O Many are in family settings that contain these issuesO Rise in diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health issuesO Rise in popularity of TV shows that depict these issues along
with other odd human behaviorsO Has no boundry—urban, suburban, rural issues similarO By reading about the issue you have more respect for what
someone is going through, and perhaps can recognize in friends and family problematic symptoms
O Helping inexperienced minds with coping skills
Why Do I like Nonfiction? O Real stories hit hardO Books often contain resources with or at the
back of book O Students will often research characters later
to see how things turn outO Can’t say, “Well that would never really
happen,” or “There’s no way out.”O Unique perspectives (From subject, parent,
sibling POV)O Nonfiction and fiction can work in
tandem with one leading to the other
How Can We Help?O Make resources available with a supportive, diverse
collection that addresses issuesO Create an atmosphere of comfort and securityO Nonjudgmental attitudes when helping kidsO Creative cataloging. Problems are not usually isolated-
but come with a cause and effect. Thus, perhaps key titles may have multiple copies. Cataloging titles is key. Try to figure in what area the book may be most relevant.
O Have supplemental resources available from support organizations or counselors. Could be a poster for Guidance Dept, or local helpline near that area.
O Make sure your aides are on the same “attitude” page as you
Taking steps to helpO Evaluate your collectionO Talk to counselors, local health agencies,
admin and police about local issuesO Catalogue books by categories relevant to
your populationO Develop a criteria-strategy to defend
yourself to administrationO Explore personal perspective anthologies
of mental health issues—they are becoming popular
Collaboration and Promotion Ideas
O In curriculum. English Projects- (Metal Health Issues and Catcher in the Rye, Advanced Comp and Memoirs) Health Class-mental health research unit. Arg and Per Gender Issues unit, AP Psych
O Displays are tricky. Be conspicuously inconspicuous! Having books displayed is better than having a display. It’s nice to have these books “seek you out”
O Letting counselors and social workers know about lists for their work with kids
O Biblio Groups meeting before/after school or onlineO Try to purchase ebooks. Kids may feel more
comfortable in an “unseen” environmentO Subscribe to Teen Health and Wellness
Problems you may run into
O School administration may believe these books are too graphic and inappropriate. (I once bought Heroin Diaries!)
O Are these stories really true?O Parents in denial get angry when they see
their child bring home a certain bookO School is not the place for thisO Kids will be influenced to take the negative
action by the charactersO You are making kids uncomfortable, they
need to feel “safe” here
My Collection and some ideas
O Categories in DestinyO New Book List
Other subjects worth considering
O Heroin/Meth/prescription drugsO Sickness, disease self/parentO Family/divorceO Female/gender issuesO Sexuality issuesO ReligionO College/pressure and stress in being
a teenO Teenage Homelessness
Thanks much for coming!
If you need to get in contact, please feel free!
The more we share, the better we will be!