摘要：Hospital libraries, including onesdesigned for patient use, share acommon history with hospitals inthe evolution of health care deliv-ery [1]. The library as a componentof the early ''insane asylum'' in theUnited States is well documented,and many had been established bythe mid-nineteenth century. Whilethese libraries certainly existed as ameans of recreation for asylumpatients, this historical communi-cation will demonstrate they alsoserved as a center for ''bibliother-apy,'' the use of reading as ameans of healing
