Library Services in Mental Health Settings

Citation

Goodier, J. (2000), "Library Services in Mental Health Settings", New Library World, Vol. 101 No. 5, pp. 243-247. https://doi.org/10.1108/nlw.2000.101.5.243.4

The editor put together this book because there was no book on the subject. Like many of us she had found herself in a specialist field of librarianship almost by chance. This book is intended to help those in a similar situation, and to provide advice to those thinking of a more planned move into mental health library services. Mental health libraries illustrate two general problems for libraries. The deinstitutionalising of health care has led to down‐sizing, and even closure, of major facilities, with the consequential severe reduction in library resources. The requirement for information has not, however, been reduced because care in the community still needs an informational input. Even in the institutional setting the customer range for mental health libraries is wide, extending from senior clinical and research staff to the patients who may have difficulty with reading because of mental disability or illness, or from not directly related disabilities. Care in the community means that more mental health provision is provided by general hospitals, general practitioners, social workers and family and friends. There is a growing need for mental health information in public libraries.

The book starts with overviews of the development and organisation of mental health care in the USA and Canada. These are followed by eight accounts of work in a range of organisational settings. These chapters are a mixture of facts, advice and anecdotes. Because they are mainly concerned with customer service they contain useful advice on information provision and customer care. The last contribution is an overview of the challenges. The last chapter is a selective guide to information resources: reference tools, core texts, Internet resources, news groups and core journals. The book ends with appendices covering accreditation organisations, university affiliated programs and a directory of mental health libraries. All these are exclusively North American. Two other appendices covering quality indicators and the librarian’s role in the provision of consumer health are more widely applicable.

There is a lot of useful information and good advice here and the book would be of use to anyone setting up a mental health library or becoming a librarian specialising in this area. Having worked in libraries for over 20 years and used public libraries for 40, I know that much of what is written here would be of use to any front‐of‐house librarian. Managing change, adapting, dealing with violent or intellectually challenged customers are just a few of the areas covered. The whole approach is proactive. Library schools should consider using some of the chapters as back‐up for lectures or preparation for placements and careers.