History of Bibliotherapy & Reading SIG
Jacquelyn W. Stephens, Professor Emeritus
Armstrong State University, Savanna, Georgia
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The Bibliotherapy and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association was organized by Jacquelyn W. Stephens in 1983. Dr. Stephens served as the first chairperson and editor of the newsletter. The inspiration for organizing the group was an outgrowth of her dissertation on bibliotherapy in 1974 and from interest generated from presentations she made at several IRA National Conventions.
A large and diverse group of educators (e.g., librarians, classroom teachers, college professors, consultants) who heard Dr. Stephens' presentations at several IRA National Conventions expressed an interest in organizing a Special Interest Group that would be responsive to the topics about which she spoke. A board of Directors was formed and they were: Stephen Agyekum, Janie Bowers, Jacqueline Comas, Patricia Clinton, Patricia Edwards and Jacquelyn W. Stephens.
In 1983 the first symposium, The Multidemsions of Bibliotherapy was held at the IRA Convention in Anaheim, California. Through the years the SIG has addresses a variety of topics in research and curriculum. Emphasizing these multidimensions served a valuable purpose of showing our audience and ourselves now bibliotherapy could be used across the curriculum.
In 1990. the SIG had its first theme-based symposium, Multicultural Aspects of Bibliotherapy. Other themes such as Bibliotherapy and the Arts have demonstrated the therapeutic value of reading. In 1993-95, the Bibliotherapy SIG sponsored a media project in Savannah, Georgia, entitled, Using Books, Bibliotherapy and the Media-A Teen's Approach. The project was designed to help teens recognize the therapeutic value of books and reading, and also promote lifelong reading and an appreciation of books.
In 1998, The Stephens-Comas Award s were established. The Stephens-Comas Educator/Organization Award of Excellence which honors current research and/or projects (i.e., within the last five years) that represents a significant advancement in our understanding and successful use of bibliotherapy and reading. The Stephen-Comas Dissertation/Graduate Research Award honors an outstanding Dissertation or Master's Thesis which uses creative and innovative approaches to difficult problems as they relate to bibliotherapy and reading. The SIG has also established a Classroom Research Award. This category of awards encourages classroom teachers to propose projects that respond to routine classroom concerns that can be addressed with a bibliotheraptic approach to sharing appropriate literature with their students. Finally, the SIG has been able to establish a Service Award. We are very pleased with the hard work that has gone into making these recognition and financial awards possible. And we have many members to thank for their support in helping us realize these goals.
​Mission Statement
The goal of the Bibliotherapy SIG is to support the commitment of literacy educators in their efforts to select literature that can have a therapeutic effect on the mental and physical development of the reader. The Bibliotherapy SIG is also committed to
- ​Disseminating current information on bibliotherapy and reading
- Fostering effective communication between SIG members
- Providing an open forum at international conferences
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Expanding and strengthening the SIG network.
Focus
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The focus of the Bibliotherapy SIG is communicating and networking to promote literature and bibliotherapy through our publication sources.
