Best paper award for AMU teachers

ALIGARH  : Prof. Naushad Ali PM, Department of Library and Information Science, Dr. Deoshree Akhouri, Department of Psychiatry, JNMC, and Ms. Rummana Nazi, an alumna of the Department of Library and Information Science, Aligarh Muslim University won the best paper awards (experiential session) at the Library Technology Conclave-2023, held at Ashoka University, Sonepat on the theme, “Evolving Library Eco-system in the AI/Machine Learning Landscape”. They won the award for their paper titled, “Bibliotherapy – Use of Books for Healing: An Experiential Study to Introduce Prospective Bibliotherapy Service in Libraries”.

Highlighting the therapeutic benefits of reading, Prof. Naushad Ali and Ms. Rummana Nazi said that Bibliotherapy is a process of healing through books. It aims to provide insight into the personal challenges people face in developing strategies to address the most concerning issues.

They said, “In a situation when we are witnessing a sharp increase in the cases of suicide, depression, and anxiety disorder, and according to the WHO, about 56 million Indians suffer from depression, with a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide, Bibliotherapy offers support, direction, inspiration, healing, and hope while facilitating change for every scenario in life”.

“Bibliotherapists provide book prescriptions and curated reading services in libraries, and the findings of the study, which was conducted on the efficacy of Bibliotherapy in patients with OCD and Depression at the Department of Psychiatry, JN Medical College, reveal that Bibliotherapy could treat mild to moderate mental health issues,” said Dr. Deoshree Akhouri.