Bibliotherapy – a way to increase legitimacy? : A qualitative study on hospital librarian’s views on bibliotherapeutic work.

Abstract

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to examine how hospital librarians experience their professional role, how they currently work with literature to promote health and well-being, as well as their thoughts and feelings about working with bibliotherapy in the future. The study is based on qualitative interviews with four hospital librarians who are working with literature to promote health and well-being, and that have thoughts about what bibliotherapy could mean as a working method. The results show that the occupational role of the hospital librarian is multifaceted and that there is a desire to locate what is at the heart of the profession. It also showed a wish for hospital libraries to have a clearer role in healthcare. Hospital librarians are now working on health promotion through literature improving happiness and strength among their visitors. A future bibliotherapeutic approach in hospital libraries could mean that they would have a more prominent role in health care