Cumbria County Council is expanding the number of libraries where people can pick up books prescribed by their local doctor to help with mental health problems and other emotional wellbeing issues.
Delivered in partnership with Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the scheme provides specially selected books, audio CDs and DVDs for people to borrow.
Previously available only in the county’s six main libraries, the number of branches offering the service is being more than trebled. Users can now be referred to borrow specific titles from 21 branches across the Cumbria.
People can also ‘self prescribe’ on seeing the titles in the libraries and finding them to be of relevance to their own situation.
The collections are housed within dedicated shelving units with Well Read posters and leaflets to promote the collections within the wider community.
A full list of all titles in the collection is also available on the libraries’ website. There is no charge if anyone wishes to request any of the Well Read titles, and there are no loan charges for anyone borrowing the DVDs or audio CDs from the collections.
The service is being expanded as part of the county council’s activities to mark the National Year of Reading - a national campaign designed to inspire everyone to read more.
Each month, the National Year of Reading has a different theme to inspire activities. May's theme focuses on the links between reading and health.
Councillor Gary Strong, cabinet member for Community Development and Safety, said: "I’m delighted that the extra investment we are putting into libraries this year means we can expand this valuable service.
"This is a scheme for everybody as nearly all us at some time in our lives are touched either directly or indirectly by emotional wellbeing issues.
"It is open to everyone in Cumbria and encourages people to help themselves to manage their mental health.
"Strengthening support for people in the areas of emotional wellbeing and mental health is a high priority for the county council. Through the Well Read scheme, people can find out more about how best to cope with feeling down or stressed."
The Well Read collections can be accessed at the libraries listed below:
Allerdale area
Aspatria Library
Wigton Library
Workington Library
Carlisle area
Longtown Library
Carlisle Library
Copeland area
Cleator Moor Library
Seascale Library
Whitehaven Library
Eden area
Alston Library
Appleby Library
Kirkby Stephen Library
Penrith Library
Shap Library
Furness area
Barrow Library
Broughton Library Link
Dalton Library
South Lakes area
Ambleside Library
Grange Library
Kendal Library
Ulverston Library
Windermere Library
More information is available on the county council's website at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries/wellread/well_read.asp
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228 226337.