I travelled to Canterbury carrying a question: what happens when people find comfort through books, but the practice has no shared map? On 1–2 October 2026, that question became my contribution to the 3rd European Biblio/Poetry Therapy Conference in Canterbury, England. My paper, “Pilgrims Without Maps: Bibliotherapy Without Construction in Unstructured Contexts,” brought a Zambian library perspective into an international conversation about reading, reflection, and wellbeing.
Canterbury felt like a fitting place for that conversation. A beautiful historic city, with Canterbury Cathedral at its heart, it holds centuries of pilgrimage and storytelling. Walking through its streets, I thought about the journeys people make through books: looking for understanding, companionship, or words for something they cannot yet explain.
My own journey into bibliotherapy began with a search for the connection between librarianship and counselling. In Canterbury, I had the opportunity to share why that connection matters and what we still need to build around it.
In Zambia, readers may already turn to literature for comfort, while librarians recommend materials that speak to personal concerns. Such encounters can happen without anyone naming them bibliotherapy.
The practice may be present, but its professional construction remains uncertain.
My presentation explored two connected gaps: the absence of a shared model deliberately adapted to guide bibliotherapy sessions in our library context, and the lack of a clearly recognised place for bibliotherapy within the institutions that support librarianship.
We have libraries, professional bodies, and established training programmes. How can these structures support librarians who want to use reading thoughtfully for wellbeing? What should guide the selection of materials, the conversation around them, and our understanding of the reader’s experience?
A short documentary about Kapasa Makasa University Library helped bring these questions to life. Materials with potential to support reflection and emotional wellbeing are spread across literature, psychology, philosophy, religion, and other subjects. Their location makes academic sense, but their relevance to a reader’s personal need may be difficult to discover.
A dedicated bibliotherapy section or clearly identified collection could offer a starting point, supported by reading guides and opportunities for conversation. The aim is to create a visible pathway between the reader, the resource, and the need.
During the Research Day round-table discussion on 30 September, I shared my PhD research project at the University of Zambia and my intention to create greater awareness of bibliotherapy. This platform forms part of that effort: a place to encourage discussion about the relationship between libraries, literature, and wellbeing.
Canterbury also gave me an unexpected invitation to deepen my interest in poetry. On the first conference day, I facilitated a poetry practice session themed “Hope Beyond Grief.” It was an insightful experience that left me wanting to explore poetry further. The theme itself stayed with me: how can words make room for grief while allowing hope to remain possible? I came to the conference with questions about library practice. I left with a renewed curiosity about the forms of literature through which people might express, recognise, and reflect on their experiences.
The conference’s four guiding Cs: communication, connection, collaboration, and companionship, became more than words to me. They were present in the discussions, the exchange of ideas, and the experience of meeting people whose work approached similar questions from different directions.
It was especially meaningful to share this experience with Mabel from Ghana, the other African participant. Being two African voices in attendance reminded me of the value of bringing our contexts into these conversations. Our experiences can help shape how bibliotherapy develops internationally.
Beyond the conference room, the literary walking tour on 3 October added another memorable dimension to my stay. Exploring Canterbury’s historical sites and literary heritage through reflective writing prompts connected literature, place, and personal experience. Supported by Canterbury City Council as part of the city’s proposed bid for UNESCO City of Literature status, the walk reminded me how a place’s stories can inspire reflection and connection.
A special shout-out to Victoria, Eduard, Mel, Mariana, Jon and Anne for the care and dedication that made this gathering so welcoming. You brought the four Cs to life, creating space for us to share our work, learn from one another, and build relationships beyond the conference. Thank you for making room for the Zambian story within this shared journey.