Reading is a creative experience. It is a dialogue between the author and the reader's imagination. Arts projects in the health sector have shown that if creativity is stifled it has detrimental effects on our physical and mental health. It is also acknowledged that self-expression, the sharing of experience and social interaction all contribute to happier, healthier and more confident individuals.

RAYS was originally a partnership project between Kirklees and Calderdale Libraries and the Primary Care Trusts of the NHS, to promote the benefits of reading and the use of libraries for people experiencing mild to moderate depression, stress, anxiety or social isolation.

In October 2000, three bibliotherapists were appointed in Kirklees, each operating at a local level, working with libraries and neighbouring health and community centres with the following objectives.

• To promote the idea of reading (particularly fiction) as an alternative to drugs, in the achievement of mental and physical well-being.
• To encourage greater use and awareness of the library services by all, but especially those suffering from social isolation.
• To support and empower the individual to improve confidence and self-esteem and to improve learning and inter-personal skills by reading, discussing and debating in small informal groups.
• To facilitate a programme of readers' advice surgeries and conversations about books and reading with members of the public using local health centres and other centres
• To develop the idea of reading as a social /group/community activity.
• To give people a positive and non-threatening experience of reading and the library service.
• To raise awareness amongst library staff and health professionals of the benefits of reading.
• To continue to collect hard evidence and examples of the benefits of reading for general mental and physical well-being.

Working across Kirklees and using libraries as our base, we have:

• Built partnerships with health and other professionals
• Worked with individuals - referred by practitioners or self-referred
• Worked with groups in libraries, hospitals, community and day centres
• Organised reading events

This is exciting work, opening people's eyes to the wealth of words we have in our possession, and the opportunities libraries offer to vulnerable and marginalised people.

RAYS - promoting well being, relaxation and friendship through books and reading.

RAYS is for anyone who doesn't read very much or doesn't use their local library and who may be suffering from stress, mild depression or is feeling isolated and lonely. If you would like to find out more about reading, especially fiction, RAYS could be for you!

The Reading and You Scheme works by putting you in touch with one of our bibliotherapists, who will:

• Try to get to know a little about you as a person
• Talk to you about what you like to read, help you get to know your local library and look with you for the kind of books you might enjoy.
• They will also be setting up reading groups where people can chat together about books and relax over a cup of tea or coffee.

• Reading is entertaining, enjoyable and can reduce stress and aid relaxation.
• Reading can take you to other people’s worlds and stretch your imagination.
• Reading can show you that your situation is not unique and help you to see different ways of looking at things.
• As part of a reading group it offers you the chance to get together with other people.

• Contacts