Read yourself well

Lose yourself in a book

Did you know that reading can help reduce stress?

Reading is the best way to relax and even six minutes reading can be enough to reduce stress levels by 68% according to new research. 

So why don't you drop into your local library to choose a good read and see what else the library has to offer?

Share your enjoyment of books and reading by joining a reading group or perhaps creating your own with a group of friends or at your work place.

Macmillan Cancer collections

We hold collections of materials about cancer (PDF, 129k) provided in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support and the Kent and Medway Cancer Network in our main 12 libraries.

Books Can Help

This is the Kent Libraries & Archives' books on prescription scheme. This scheme aims to assist people with mild to moderate mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, phobias and eating disorders.

How it works

GPs and other health professionals prescribe books, from a list (PDF, 79 k) selected by a variety of experienced mental health practitioners, to relevant patients. The client can then take the referral form (PDF, 111k) into their local library to borrow the recommended books. Books Can Help collections are available in 39 Kent libraries.

If the book is not immediately available locally, the library will obtain it from another library free of charge.

Want to know more?

Read our leaflet (PDF, 291k) or ask at your local library.

Reading lists for both our Books Can Help and Macmilan Cancer collections (in the 'Health' section), as well as lists of books appropriate for bereaved children (see 'Parent and carer' section), are available to view from our online catalogue. You can also consult our list of links to bereavement and mental health self help websites as well as quality free and subscription resources from our health and wellbeing online reference page.