Abstract:

The concept of “reading therapy”, originating from the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates, is inseparably linked to library services. Modern libraries can use bibliotherapeutic services asa starting point to provide assistance in emotional management, mental health support and spiritualcultivation of social citizens. The article revolves around two research questions: firstly, the positioningof public libraries in the development of bibliotherapy in the UK and the US; secondly, the specificimplementation of bibliotherapeutic services by public libraries in these regions. Through an explorationand interpretation of these questions, the article advocates to promote public libraries to become importantinstitutions for public mental health support, to strengthen the relationship between bibliotherapeuticservices and reading promotion, and to accelerate the training of knowledgeable librarians in the directionof bibliotherapy, so that we can promote the domestic library community to reach an industry consensus,and promote the development of bibliotherapeutic services.