Health and reading well
Reading can improve your health and wellbeing.
Reading can improve your health and wellbeing.
The library offers self-help, health information and creative writing and ebooks on our digital platforms Libby and BorrowBox.
Reading well
Reading Well book lists are national initiatives approved by health experts and people with lived experience, their relatives and carers.
Current Reading Well selections are listed below. Libraries also stock books on health conditions, diet, exercise and healthy cooking.
Mental health conditions
Reading Well for mental health is a book list for adults on the subject of topics such as anger, anxiety, depression and stress.
For children
Reading Well for Children recommends books which address common concerns around wellbeing and mental health among children. The collection is suitable for primary school children and their families to explore some uncomfortable themes.
For families
The Reading Well for families book collection recommends books which address concerns around family wellbeing during pregnancy and the early years. It provides reliable information on themes such as becoming a family, mental health and coping with loss.
Some of the books provide information and advice; there are also personal stories, illustrated books and poetry.
For young people
Reading Well for teens comprises book titles that will support teens with a variety of common wellbeing concerns which teens may experience.
Dementia
Reading Well for dementia is a booklist which recommends helpful reading for both people living with dementia and their family, friends and carers. The books provide reliable information, advice and support along with personal stories.
Reminiscence Bags Service
Library Reminiscence bags work best in sharing situations where conversation and memories can be initiated in pairs or small groups. The bags are themed around topics such as home life, work, transport, leisure, festivals, family life and local history.
All bags are available for loan, can be found on the catalogue and are available for a 3-week loan period.
Pictures to Share by Helen Bate, cover a variety of themes such as pets, travel, countryside and shopping. These books are ideal for family, friends and carers to use especially when someone is finding communication difficult.
Library activities and services
Activities
Libraries across Oxfordshire offer a variety of activities and services, in addition to book choices, which residents find helpful to connect with others, discover new interests or hobbies and reduce isolation or anxiety. These may include language cafés, Knit ‘n’ Natters, author talks, reading groups or seasonal activities.
Reading groups
The Oxfordshire Libraries Reading Group Service enables groups of readers who love to read, meet up and discuss books. Groups are provided with a Librarian’s Choice title from among our large selection of titles of classics contemporary books as well as those which are literary gems. Find out more about the options available to you through your library. This service does not suit groups who have special interests or who only want to read the latest bestsellers.
Volunteering
People who volunteer say it helps them feel better connected with others and their community in a way which allows them to contribute in a productive way. The library service has a number of volunteering opportunities, including roles to support some of our smaller libraries across the network and task-specific roles such as rhymetime volunteers, digital helpers and code club volunteers. Please visit our volunteering with Oxfordshire libraries webpage.