The function of reading at hospitals. A qualitative study of hospital librarians’ views on child and youth patients' reading

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to find out how a number ofhospital librarians look at child and youth patients' reading and itspossible role in a mental and physical healing process. We alsoinvestigate the knowledge, strategies and thoughts the librarianshave on bibliotherapy.Qualitative interviews have been used and seven librarians, at twodifferent hospital libraries with children's and youth activities, wereinterviewed during November and December 2011. The analysis isbased on one theory; we use Sten Furhammar’s model whichincludes four different categories of reading.We can see, according to the librarians’ answers, that the mostcommon function of the patients’ reading can be explained throughtwo of Furhammar’s categories. Our respondents believe that thepatients mostly read to relax from heavy thoughts and situationswhich can be connected to the category impersonal experiencereading. This type of reading has according to Furhammar not anenriching effect if it’s described as entertainment and relaxation.But in our study the librarians think that this type of reading can beenriching, and even have a therapeutical function. They alsobelieve that reading can have other therapeutical functions as selfreflection,comfort and relief from worrying which can beconnected to the category personal experience reading. We foundout that the librarians do not use the word bibliotherapy or workwith it with awareness. But they think bibliotherapeutical situationscan occur without their involvement or help.Program: Bibliotekari