This article discusses the therapeutic value of reading in bibliotherapy. The idea of bibliotherapy is very old, and we can find the idea in the inscription in front of the ancient library at Thebes. Bibliotherapy was born in religious endeavors; was given a scientific base by psychiatry and psychology; was applied by hospital libraries in practice ; was adapted by education from the standpoint of personality formation through reading.
Bibliotherapy is defined as one of psychotherapies dealing with a process of dynamic interactions between the personality of a reader and literature.
Bibliotherapy has twofold principles: (1) Principle of methods; the right book for the right patient at the right time; (2) Principle of functions; close interrelationship and interactions among identification, catharsis and insight.
The therapeutic value of reading has three aspects; educational value, treatment value and social value.
Thus, bibliotherapy is one of reading-problems. In brief, it is a treatment and education through reading.
