Bibliotherapie - eine Bestandsaufnahme in Zeiten des Internet

The purpose of this diploma thesis is to analyse the subject of bibliotherapy, its possible meanings and how these can be converted into versions using new media, especially the internet. First, bibliotherapy is seen in context with other forms of therapy and with regard to how they interact. Then, the history of bibliotherapy is outlined. To find a meaningful set of definitions, a special model is used. This part is continued with an examination of possible content, forms, addressees and approached problems in bibliotherapy. As a method of research, a review of current journals in the field of behavioural medicine and psychiatry as well as traditional literature in the field is undertaken. Then, the way in which users can find health sites of high quality on the internet is discussed with special reference to consumer protection, legal and ethical issues. Information from interviews with librarians and other key-players in the field are used to highlight the Austrian situation regarding bibliotherapy and public libraries. Finally, some current developments in the UK are discussed. The findings suggest that there are mainly two ways of seeing bibliotherapy today. One is concerned with therapy using the written word, which can also be literature or poetry and therefore, in which librarians can play an important role. The other is more concerned with self-help manuals and here usually cognitive behavioural therapists or physicians are clearly involved and models of co-operations with libraries are developing