Chapter 19: Turning Words into Wisdom: Libraries’ Creative Power for Adapting and Thriving in Different Times

Stress levels have increased significantly over this decade, depleting our resilience without us realizing it. This has led to a rise in mental health conditions and a decline in overall well-being. Traditional stress management methods encourage us to do better, relax, or distract ourselves. We need new approaches to build resilience that involve connecting with ourselves instead of trying to distract ourselves. Engaging in creative well-being practices can help improve our overall health. One example is creative bibliotherapy, which involves using poems and short stories as a starting point for creating something new and seeing where it takes us. Short stories and poems, with their ability to capture the essence of small moments, can be transformative when we relate these moments to our experiences. This process can provide a new perspective, the very essence of therapy. It allows for a deeper understanding of self and others while sparking imagination, curiosity, and thoughtful reflection. Short stories and poems are enigmatic and open to interpretation, allowing each person to gain unique emotional, mental, spiritual, and intellectual insights from them. Creative bibliotherapy is often conducted in a library setting, and as caretakers of these literary treasures, library professionals are uniquely positioned to promote their use. Although using short stories and poems for bibliotherapy may initially seem daunting, this chapter suggests approaching it more lightheartedly. It offers tips and recommendations for individually embracing the value of working with them collaboratively to promote your own well-being and that of your colleagues, and your community.