SEMARANG, May 5, 2026 – In an effort to strengthen international recognition toward becoming a World Class University (WCU), the Library and Information Science Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, is organizing a Visiting Professor event themed “Reading for Mental Health: Integrating Bibliotherapy into Library Services.” The event, held at the Art Center A Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, featured an expert from Universiti Malaya, Dr. Ranita Hisham Shunmugam.
Activities driven by the increasing mental health challenges among students. Based on the latest data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), it was found that approximately 4.6% of students experience severe psychological symptoms. Dr. Ranita emphasized that libraries have great potential to become “healing spaces” thru the method of bibliotherapy, which is a technique that uses targeted reading materials to aid emotional well-being.
In her presentation, Dr. Ranita explained bibliotherapy, which is not just an ordinary reading activity, but an interactive process between the reader and the narrative that can help individuals understand themselves and the situations they face. According to her, libraries today do not only function as places to store books, but can also become comfortable spaces that support the mental health of their users thru the right reading choices.
The material presented also discusses various simple steps to start a reading habit as a form of self-healing, such as choosing light reading and setting aside 5-10 minutes each day for reading. Additionally, participants were introduced to the concept of “Read, Reflect, Reset” as a form of self-reflection thru reading.
In the final session, one of the questions was raised by a student named Ilham, who inquired about the boundaries of a librarian’s role in supporting users’ mental health thru services and reading recommendations. The question discussed how librarians can act as facilitators while still understanding professional boundaries, so that issues requiring further handling should be referred to professional psychologists.
Thru this activity, it is hoped that students can understand that the library is not just a place to seek information, but can also be a space that supports the comfort and emotional well-being of its users.
