Hello,

I am a librarianship MA student at the University of Sheffield, and am about
to undertake my dissertation research on bibliotherapy. I intend to
interview public library staff involved in the project, and if you would be
interested in being interviewed, then that would be fantastic. Below is my
participant information sheet, which should provide more information, if
you're interested in being involved. 

Alternately, if you have any helpful advice, or useful materials from your
local authority, if you could send them to me via email
([log in to unmask]), or email requesting my address if they're only
available in paper form. I'm hoping to build a comprehensive picture of
bibliotherapy and Books On Prescription, so your help would be greatly
appreciated!

Thanks,

Liz Brewster

Participant Information Sheet


You are being invited to take part in a research project. Before you decide
it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and
what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information
carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is
anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time
to decide whether or not you wish to take part. Thank you for reading this.

Project Title: Bibliotherapy: the public library perspective

Aims
This research aims to investigate the views of public library staff on
self-help and creative bibliotherapy. It will review and analyse the
self-help bibliotherapy scheme, Books on Prescription, and the creative
bibliotherapy scheme Reading and You, and assess the success of these
partnership scheme from a public library perspective. It will measure the
effect of such schemes on collection development and will explore opinions
on healthy communities and social inclusion.

Objectives
·	Review and analyse the self-help bibliotherapy scheme, Books on
Prescription, and assess the success of this partnership scheme from a
public library perspective. 
·	Review and analyse the creative bibliotherapy scheme, Reading and You, and
assess the success of this partnership scheme from a public library perspective.
·	Examine and measure the effect the Books on Prescription scheme has had on
collection development.
·	Explore the opinions of public librarians about Books on Prescription,
creative bibliotherapy, healthy communities and social inclusion.
 

Participation
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to
take part you will be given this information sheet to keep and be asked to
sign a consent form, confirming that you understand the aims and objectives
of the research. However, you can withdraw at any time without it affecting
any benefits that you are entitled to in any way.  You do not have to give a
reason. You have been chosen to take part in this research as you are
employed by a public library to work in either a creative bibliotherapy or
self-help bibliotherapy, such as Books on Prescription. 

The research will be conducted as a series of interviews, which will last
between 30 minutes and an hour. Whilst there are no immediate benefits for
those people participating in the project, your contribution will be
essential to the research and will be gratefully received.  The long-term
benefits of this research will add to the body of knowledge on the subject
and be of great benefit to those considering starting a similar scheme. 

All the information that  is collected about you during the course of the
research will be kept strictly confidential. You will not be able to be
identified in any reports or publications. Data will be stored anonymously
and access will be restricted to the researcher and supervisor.  A password
protected computer will store the data. Face-to-face interviews will be
recorded, but the names of the participants will be kept anonymous.  Some
direct quotations may be included in the research write-up but these will
remain anonymous.

The results will be collated and written up, and may be published at a later
date.  

The research has been ethically approved by in line with the University’s
Ethics Review Procedure by the Department of Information Studies.

Questions and complaints
Please retain this participant information sheet for reference.  If you have
any complaint or question, please contact the researcher (Liz Brewster,
[log in to unmask]) or supervisor (Barbara Sen, [log in to unmask]) in the
first instance.  If you feel a complaint has not been handled to your
satisfaction, you can contact the University’s Registrar and Secretary.

Thank you very much for your participation!