Goodman wrote a piece on Bibliotherapy, a phrase I was not familiar with. In her blog post I was able to define, reflect, and comment on how I personally and professional feel about Biblotherapy in a school setting.
I'm torn and find myself agreeing with another blogg comment by Mary Ann Harlan. I'm not a trained professional and I don't know if I have the skills to appropriately select and distribute reading material based on only a small amount of information. If a student walks in and asks for resources about a certain trauma i will be happy to assist them because they are looking for information on their own. I would feel comfortable with facts, with allowing students to research, read, and come to their own conclusions. I would help certainly, but I don't think it would be right for me to assume that I know what is best for the student.
I feel something like this could be a slippery slope where untrained individuals while trying to help a student may in fact do more harm than good. (Or compound an already stressful and traumatic situation.)
I know as a public librarian I want to help everyone, especially students. I want to create save spaces for them to feel comfortable asking questions about hard topics, but I'm not a professional. I want what is best for my students, I wish them to succeed in everything that they do, but I can't fix everything. I can offer an ear. (in most cases, there are horrible and extenuating circumstances) I want to help them explore and research the tough topics to understand what is going on or why certain things are happening to them. I want them to know they are NOT alone. I will help them find resources like phone numbers and emails, but I'm not a professional.
For small things, perhaps a first breakup, or a pet dying, I won't trivialize their feelings but I can use personal reference for something trauma that, so maybe. For the bigger stuff, the stuff that keeps childcare providers and educators up at night; those horrors parents fear the most, that is not my place. I'm not a professional, however, I can provide resources to the people who are, because I am a professional.
I'm torn and find myself agreeing with another blogg comment by Mary Ann Harlan. I'm not a trained professional and I don't know if I have the skills to appropriately select and distribute reading material based on only a small amount of information. If a student walks in and asks for resources about a certain trauma i will be happy to assist them because they are looking for information on their own. I would feel comfortable with facts, with allowing students to research, read, and come to their own conclusions. I would help certainly, but I don't think it would be right for me to assume that I know what is best for the student.
I feel something like this could be a slippery slope where untrained individuals while trying to help a student may in fact do more harm than good. (Or compound an already stressful and traumatic situation.)
I know as a public librarian I want to help everyone, especially students. I want to create save spaces for them to feel comfortable asking questions about hard topics, but I'm not a professional. I want what is best for my students, I wish them to succeed in everything that they do, but I can't fix everything. I can offer an ear. (in most cases, there are horrible and extenuating circumstances) I want to help them explore and research the tough topics to understand what is going on or why certain things are happening to them. I want them to know they are NOT alone. I will help them find resources like phone numbers and emails, but I'm not a professional.
For small things, perhaps a first breakup, or a pet dying, I won't trivialize their feelings but I can use personal reference for something trauma that, so maybe. For the bigger stuff, the stuff that keeps childcare providers and educators up at night; those horrors parents fear the most, that is not my place. I'm not a professional, however, I can provide resources to the people who are, because I am a professional.
Resources:
Goodman, J. (2017, March 7). Info. 233 Bibliotherapy in the Library. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from https://ischoolblogs.sjsu.edu/info/ombooks/