Introducing Bibliotheraphy in public libraries for the development of health and social condition of post war community in Jaffna district- An exploratory study
Arulanantham, S and Navaneethakrishnan, S
Bibliotherapy refers simply to the use of reading materials for help in solving personal problems or for psychiatric therapy. We are living in an age when the concepts of development and rehabilitation of people are based upon the idea of a team working together with one goal. Bibliotherapy is not a costly or invasive intervention, but would require a partnership between government, libraries, healthcare services, and volunteer and community organisations. Developmental bibliotherapy is the approach most often used by public librarians and the one that can be utilized as part of consciousness- raising or sensitivity training programs for professionals, or offered as a public program to satisfy the demand for self-actualization activities in a post war community.
Jaffna district is one of 4 districts in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the largest in Northern Province by population (622,589), but smallest by land area (1,023 square km). Jaffna peninsula is divided into 14 divisional secretariat divisions. For the last 02 decades of long-lasting warfare had caused severe impede in the economy, infrastructure and the population subjected to series of loses and in some way or other traumatized in this district. As result more than 82359 (13% of the total population) people seeking for help in solving personal problems or for psychiatric therapy are on the increase. This includes Psychiatric patients (40,936), Orphans (9571), Widows (29,447), Disabled Children (919), mentally affected children (329), Affected by Child abuse(1157).
The objective of this research study is to identify and investigate the attitudes of public libraries and librarians of local government authority of Jaffna peninsula towards providing bibliotherapy as one of their services. The current study employed a survey research method, which utilized a questionnaire in order to collect data from a random sample of Administrators and Professionals related to Public libraries in Jaffna. (n=53) Questionnaire was designed to elicit information concerning reasons and reflection on this topic. Using the statistical technique the data was analysed to find out the awareness, acceptance, and existence, suitability of bibliotheraphy in public libraries and the attitudes and behaviors of the librarians to be as a bibliotheraphist.
Results of the study made on administrators and professionals related to Public libraries in Jaffna showed that most of them have familiarity with bibliotherapy and awareness of the concept of bibliotherapy. 51.7% of them fully agreed with Bibliotheraphy has to been considered as a type of library services in post war areas. Suitability and availability of resources to start bibliotheraphy as a service is felt to be improved by 13% of them and more than 96% of the responses to questions about the attitudes and behaviors of the librarian to be as a bibliotheraphist indicated most of them (96%) have positive confidents on it. Of the overall sample, 83 % reported that the current existence of a service merely related to "Bibliotherapy".
The study suggests that no better time is there than now to take the initiative to implement bibliotheraphy. With the support of Health department, Public Libraries are well positioned to provide bibliotheraphy programs that will allow Libraries to make a major contribution not only to Jaffna district, but also to improving the nation’s health and wellbeing.
Keywords: Bibliotheraphy, Library services, Treatment, Reading
