Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2005. / Adviser: Richard M. Lerner. Submitted to the Dept. of Child Development. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-152). Access restricted to members of the Tufts University community. Also available via the World Wide Web;

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This master's thesis examines how the social activity of the library with books and literature can strengthen the contact between imprisoned fathers and their children. The project Godnattsagor inifrån has been studied from three different perspectives, the library, criminal authorities and the prisoners with their children. Interviews were conducted with the different actors of the project. The perspective social constructivism and the concept literacy practice were used to analyze the interviews and the project. In the prison reading program Godnattsagor inifrån the fathers choose a story from a children’s storybook and read the text, the story is recorded on a CD and sent to the child on the outside. The project attempts to create or strengthen the bonds between fathers and children with help of reading experiences. The fathers take part in a study circle where they are introduced to the library activities and practice how to read out loud to their children. This also includes reading and appreciating literature for themselves. I have noticed that Godnattsagor inifrån can inspire children to be reading people. It has also been noticed that the project can have the same impact on the prisoner´s identity. The cooperation between the prison, the library and the families increase the possibilities for both the children and their fathers. My knowledge contribution is to show how important reading is and why. What happens to the individual when given the opportunity to read? This is a two years master´s thesis in Library and Information Science.

This thesis investigates the effects of bibliotherapy on children and adolescents with a parent in prison. In addition, it also investigates why someone would choose to use bibliotherapy when leading a group of children and adolescents with a parent in prison. In addition, it aims to compare the effects of structured bibliotherapy to an unstructured bibliotherapy done without guidance. The organization BUFFF is used in order to get in contact with people that had a parent in prison when they were young and used bibliotherapy to cope and improve their mental wellbeing. Specifically, Pia Bergström who led a bibliotherapeutic group focused on writing at BUFFF.                   Interviews were conducted with Pia Bergström because of her involvement as a leader of bibliotherapy and four adults who, during their childhood, had an incarcerated parent and used bibliotherapy in different ways to endure and process their situation. Audio from the interviews were recorded and transcribed. During their transcription the interviews were slightly adjusted to preserve the interviewees anonymity and to make the transcriptions easier to read. The answers were then organized into thematic subjects that were used to structure the analysis. Most of the answers were positive towards bibliotherapy and the effect that it has had on the interviewee’s lives. Everyone interviewed would recommend bibliotherapy as a form of therapy both for children with an incarcerated parent or other traumatic circumstances. The importance of context was evident, and it seemed to help the interviewee’s cope because they realized that they were not alone and could experiment in a safe environment, something that the two people interviewed that used bibliotherapeutic methods on their own did not experience. Ultimately the thesis results answered what they aimed to investigate and indicate that bibliotherapy can have a positive impact for many children in trying situations.