Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Reading Well booklists?

The booklists cover children’s mental health, teens’ mental health, adults’ mental health and dementia. Each Reading Well list includes a range of different books from health information to personal stories. 

Many of the books are available as eBooks and audiobooks. 

Which schemes have been updated?

Reading Well for teens is an update to the 2016 Reading Well for young people (“Shelf Help”) scheme, focusing on supporting young people’s wellbeing in a post-pandemic context.

Reading Well for dementia is an update to the Books on Prescription Dementia list which launched in England in 2015 and was made available in Wales in 2018 and responds to current needs and priorities for people affected by dementia.

We have an old version of a Reading Well scheme on our website/catalogue, should we remove it?

When a Reading Well scheme is updated, the new list officially replaces the previous list for this topic or condition and the old list is no longer supported on The Reading Agency website. Where possible, we would ask people to update any listings to the new list.

We appreciate many libraries have copies of books from old lists and may wish to continue using them, with the books absorbed into general collections and in-line with local stock retention policies.

Can we still purchase materials for schemes that have been updated?

We do not provide supporting print material for old versions of Reading Well schemes. If you still have marketing materials relating to an old scheme you should follow local policies for removing them from circulation.

Why have you retired the Reading Well for long term conditions booklist?

Reading Well for long term conditions was launched in 2017 and reflected the evidence and knowledge available at the time.

Following updates to NICE guidance, some of the books included on the long term conditions list may no longer represent current approaches to treatment. Several other books included on the list are also now out of print. For these reasons, we have retired the long term conditions scheme from the Reading Well programme until we can conduct a full review of the list. We do not have a date for this review at present.

Is there evidence that Reading Well helps people manage their health and wellbeing? 

Reading Well empowers individuals to understand and manage their health and wellbeing. Over 3.8 million Reading Well books have been borrowed since 2013. 92% of users find their books helpful and 81% say their book helped them understand more about their health needs.  

What do readers say about the Reading Well books? 

“Felt recognised & made me realise I’m not alone. Feel positive on life” – Reading Well user 

“Shared this book with my daughter who suffers with health and mental [health] issues. She absolutely loved this book in helping her to understand a bit more about feelings” – Reading Well user 

“Thank you for this amazing life changing book. It was very useful for me because I struggle to get out of bed and I have depression as well. So much to learn I took notes and I intend to start using these techniques in my daily life…” – Reading Well user  

How is reading good for your health and wellbeing?  

Research shows that reading for pleasure can promote better health and wellbeing, aids in building social connections and relationships with others and is associated with a range of factors that help increase the chances of social mobility. 

Readers report better overall health and wellbeing than non-readers.^{1 2}. Reading on a regular basis – whether a book, magazine or even an email – can have a greater impact on the ability to understand health information, such as a letter from a GP, than prior education.³   

How do I access my local library? 

Find your local library here.

You can find Reading Well books at your local library. They’re free to borrow. It’s easy and free to join your local library, if you are not already a member. A member of library staff can help you join.  

How can libraries support health and wellbeing?  

Research funded by Arts Council England in 2015 found library use is positively associated with subjective wellbeing, with library users having higher life satisfaction, happiness and sense of purpose in life. You can access further research on libraries. 

What can the library offer? 

Anyone living in the UK is legally entitled to borrow books for free from public libraries. This ensures that everyone can have equal access to the power and pleasure of reading, information and ideas, and the skill and expertise of professional librarians. Libraries also run a wide range of other services, programmes and events. 

Public libraries aim to connect communities, improve wellbeing and promote equality through learning, literacy and cultural participation. This activity is delivered through the Public Library Universal Offers with the Public Library Universal Health and Wellbeing Offer supporting the health and wellbeing of local people and communities through offering space, signposting activities and services that inform, uplift and engage. 

How can Reading Well help my patients? 

Reading Well supports better understanding and management of mental health and wellbeing. 

Reading Well books can support patients: 

• Whilst waiting for appointments or treatments.  
• Alongside the delivery of existing services.  
• As part of post diagnosis information and advice.  
• As part of a social prescribing conversation: 
  • You can signpost people to a specific title or list.  
  • Books can be used before, during or following treatment. 
  • Books are available for free from the public library. Libraries also offer other health and wellbeing services and activities. 

What do health professionals say about Reading Well?  

“I frequently suggest books and resources to people who want to know about their illness and want to learn how to help themselves… It is so helpful to have a well chosen list with a range of formats.” – GP 

“By recommending quality assured and robustly curated books and resources, I’m able to inform and guide my patients about their conditions… The therapeutic effects of reading run far deeper than simply providing information.” – GP 

You can download GP top tips and a digital flyer on Reading Well for health professionals.

How do you develop Reading Well? 

Reading Well is an evidence-based, quality-assured programme. The focus is to provide helpful reading to support people to understand and manage their health and wellbeing. The lists are created to provide early-stage support and are not a replacement for clinical intervention.  

We follow an established process for developing Reading Well which includes evidence mapping, expert consultation, co-production and a thorough review of all titles against our book selection frameworks. 

How do you identify topics for Reading Well? 

We follow an established process using our book selection protocol and book selection framework.  

The topics included on each list are identified through an evidence review of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and relevant policies, consultation with the health sector, library staff and an expert roundtable. This work informs our book selection framework which outlines key findings and provides recommendations for the scope of each individual Reading Well list. We also work with a co-production partner on each Reading Well list to ensure people with lived experience inform the development.  

How do you choose the books and digital resources? 

Books and digital resources are chosen by our expert book selection panel and mapped against the book selection protocol and book selection framework. Each Reading Well list has its own book selection panel made up of experts and people with lived experience. Representatives include NHS England, the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Nursing, the British Psychological Society, Mind, Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families and library staff.  

We also work with a bespoke co-production partner on each Reading Well scheme to ensure the views of people with lived experience inform the development of the book lists. 

Why do you include digital resources alongside books?

Where we have included digital resources alongside books, they are intended to provide additional support and information. The inclusion of digital resources also offers information in other languages.

The focus of Reading Well remains a curated booklist that provides helpful reading to support people to understand and manage their health and wellbeing; digital resources are chosen to enhance the information available via the booklist. The focus is on evidence-based resources from UK organisations that will be regularly reviewed and updated.

Who supports Reading Well? 

Reading Well is supported by over 40 partners from across the health and voluntary sectors. It is also supported by Libraries Connected and the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru (SCL Cymru) through the Public Library Health Group. More information about our partners can be found on each Reading Well scheme webpage.  

Can I suggest a book for Reading Well? 

Our endorsement process means we are unable to add titles to existing lists once they have been finalised. 

At the start of every new or updated scheme we send out a tender to submission to publishers and authors, inviting them to submit titles they think would be suitable for inclusion. This tender to submission goes out publicly, as well as to all our current publishing partners and on request. If you would like to be notified about future booklists, or have a general recommendation, please contact us at [email protected]  

How do you evaluate Reading Well? 

The Reading Well programme undergoes annual evaluation, typically conducted by independent evaluators, assessing the programme’s reach as well as its impact on users, libraries, and health partners and prescribers. 

We take a mixed-methods approach to evaluation of Reading Well. While the research tools continue to be refined based on a process of regular feedback and reflection, a core body of questions is retained year-on-year to maintain continuity and comparability across time. User surveys are available on The Reading Agency’s website, signposted to through scheme leaflets and stickers, and also distributed via postcards placed in the Reading Well books and displayed in libraries. The findings captured through these surveys are supplemented through the collection of library and health partner data, qualitative methods such as interviews with users and case-study approaches, and quantitative book issues data.  

How do you monitor Reading Well usage? 

We monitor Reading Well usage on an ongoing basis through the collection and analysis of book issues data (i.e., the number of library loans each year, including checkouts and renewals). This data is generously provided by the British Library’s Public Lending Right service (annually, UK-wide) and SCL Cymru (monthly, Wales-wide) and accessed through Nielsen BookScan (ongoing, UK-wide sample). These data sources are cross-analysed to ensure accuracy and measure take up of the lists across time. 

How do you review Reading Well booklists? 

We undertake an annual review of Reading Well booklists and digital resources to ensure the books are still relevant, and remove any books or digital resources as necessary. Contact us for more information about our process.

Are the books available in Welsh?  

In Wales, in partnership with Books Council of Wales, the four schemes are available in all 22 Welsh library authorities. We work with Books Council of Wales to make most titles on the lists available in Welsh language. For information about the Welsh titles available visit our children, teens, mental health and dementia booklist pages.
As well as this, the user leaflets have been adapted with Welsh signposting and translated into the Welsh language. You can browse our Welsh and bilingual material in our resources bank. 

I would like to stock Reading Well books and promotional materials, can you help? 

Printed Reading Well promotional materials, including leaflets, posters and stickers, are available to buy via The Reading Agency shop. 

Reading Well books are free to borrow from public libraries across England and Wales.  

If you would like to purchase a Reading Well title you can via Bookshop.org or through LoveReading, who give 25% of money spent to schools in need.

How do I find out more about Reading Well? 

Find out more about Reading Well on our website. You can also contact us for more information.

Who is Reading Well for dementia for?

The booklist is targeted at people living with dementia, including people affected by dementia including carers and family members including younger children to help them understand more about dementia. Some of the recommended books provide information and advice; there are also personal stories and age-appropriate books for children.

Were people with lived experience of dementia involved in selecting the books?

Yes, all our Reading Well collections are co-produced with those with lived experience. For Reading Well for dementia, we worked with our co-production partner, Innovations in Dementia, and a diverse panel of people affected by dementia from across England and Wales.

Why have you included books to support carers and family members?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework.

Families and carers of people with dementia have been identified as a key target audience who may benefit from Reading Well for dementia. Evaluation also shows that this target audience was reflected in usage of the previous list.

Around 500,000 people care for a person with dementia in England alone.⁴ In 2019, there were an estimated 400,000 unpaid carers in Wales, and this is estimated to rise to over half a million by 2037.⁵ Carers can experience several challenges that often take a toll on their own health and wellbeing⁶ including high rates of perceived burden, social isolation, poor mental and physical health and financial hardship.⁷ Failure to acknowledge the needs of the carer or family and friends of those with dementia is shown to have a negative impact on the person living with dementia themselves.⁸ Carers often feel poorly equipped to manage the complex needs of the person they care for. Family or friends of the person with dementia often assume the role of carer with little, or no understanding of dementia, or its effects on themselves or the person they care for.⁹

A note on the inclusion of ‘Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia: A Guide for Families by Karen Watchman’: The book selection framework identified this topic area as a priority for the dementia list. Around 20% of people with learning disabilities over the age of 65 will develop dementia, and those with Down’s syndrome are most at risk, with 2 out of 3 people over the age of 60 developing dementia.¹⁰ People with learning disabilities and their carers also experience additional challenges such as delayed diagnosis, co-morbidities, younger age at onset and faster progression.¹¹ There are also additional challenges related to parent carers who will be older than the person, may have their own health needs and may find themselves caring for elderly parents as well.¹²

A thorough search of available books revealed this to be the most appropriate title for inclusion. Although published in 2017, our book selection panel agreed the book’s content is up to date and in line with current guidance and does not include any signposting that is likely to date. Consultation with the wider library sector supported including the book on the refreshed list.

Why have you not included adult fiction?

Adult fiction was considered as part of the book selection process, and a separate panel of library staff reviewed several adult fiction books. After reviewing the titles against the book selection protocol and framework, the book selection panel and co-production group agreed that non-fiction personal stories were a better fit for the dementia list than the adult fiction selection available.

Why have you included children’s books?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework.

Evidence shows it is important to acknowledge that younger family members can experience worry and distress.¹³ It can be hard for them to understand the changes they see in their relative and they often need help and support to understand dementia. Children and young people can also take on additional roles and relationships within the family including caregiving responsibilities.¹⁴ Consultation findings recommended that children’s titles on the impact of dementia on family members and carers should be included on the list to provide support when there is a dementia diagnosis in the family.

Can we still use the Picture to Share books from the previous list?

We appreciate how well used the Pictures to Share books have been in libraries. Unfortunately, Pictures to Share titles are no longer in print and we could not find a suitable alternative.

Libraries may still have copies of the books and may wish to continue using them, with the books absorbed into general collections and in-line with local stock retention policies. They are not, however, included in the new dementia list. This has been developed in response to current clinical guidelines supported by available content and will officially replace the previous list as the Reading Well resource for this condition.

Will issues of books from Books on Prescription Dementia (England 2015 & Wales 2018) still count towards Reading Well issue figures?

We will continue to count issues of books from Books on Prescription Dementia (England 2015 & Wales 2018) towards our total issue figures until at least 2026 before reviewing our methodology beyond that time.

Who is Reading Well for mental health for?

Reading Well for mental health is targeted at adults. The booklist provides helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions, or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. Some books also include personal stories from people who are living with or caring for someone with mental health needs.

Were people with lived experience involved in selecting the books?

Yes, all our Reading Well collections are co-produced with those with lived experience. For Reading Well for mental health, we worked with our co-production partner, Coalition for Personalised Care (was Coalition for Collaborative Care), and a diverse panel of people with experience of the conditions covered.

What age group does the scheme target?

Reading Well for teens is targeted at teenagers (13-18) and includes a wide range of reading levels and formats to support less confident readers and encourage engagement. The scheme provides information, advice and support to help teens better understand their feelings, handle difficult experiences and boost confidence.

Were teenagers involved in selecting the books?

Yes, all our Reading Well collections are co-produced with those with lived experience. For Reading Well for teens, we worked with our co-production partner, Partnership for Young London, and a panel of diverse young people from across England and Wales.

Why have you included books about neurodiversity?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework.

Evidence shows neurodivergent children and young people had worse mental health outcomes after the start of the pandemic¹⁵ and 63% of autistic young people said their mental health was worse following the outbreak of the pandemic.¹⁶ NICE clinical guidelines recommend providing autistic young people and their families with information about autism, its management and support available.¹⁷ NICE recommends people receiving a diagnosis of ADHD are informed about sources of information and support.¹⁸

Why have you included books about body image?

The books included on Reading Well for teens have been identified and chosen by our expert book selection panel following a thorough evidence review, in line with our book selection protocol and mapped against our book selection framework. We also worked with our co-production partner, Partnership for Young London, and a panel of diverse young people from across England and Wales to identify topics and books for inclusion.

Body image and eating disorders are a key area of concern with increasing prevalence amongst young people. The proportion of children and young people with possible eating problems has increased from 6.7% in 2017 to 13.0% in 2021 in 11- to 16-year-olds, and from 44.6% to 58.2% in 17- to 19-year-olds over the same period.¹⁹

Why have you included books about bereavement?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework.

Evidence shows experiencing bereavement and loss has a detrimental impact on children and young people, including on their wellbeing and mental health. This has been compounded by the impact of the pandemic with a significant number of young people reporting the winter lockdown was harder to cope with than previous one because someone in their family had died, often as a result of COVID.²⁰ Providing clear, honest and age-appropriate information can help young people cope with bereavement and loss.

Why have you included a book that uses the term Queer?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework. Throughout this process there was a high level of support for the term Queer.

Since the 1980s many in the LGBTQ+ community have reclaimed the word and it is used as an umbrella term by those who prefer it to other labels or to describe experiences that don’t fit a single category of sexuality or gender identity.

However, we appreciate that not everyone feels comfortable with the word given its historical use as a derogatory term. We have tried to balance the use of the terminology with other language as appropriate.

Terminology consistently evolves and there is no ‘one-size fits all’ term for those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Why have you included books about sexuality, gender identity and mental health?

The books included on Reading Well for teens have been identified and chosen by our expert book selection panel following a thorough evidence review, in line with our book selection protocol and mapped against our book selection framework. We also worked with our co-production partner, Partnership for Young London, and a panel of diverse young people from across England and Wales to identify topics and books for inclusion.

Evidence shows that many young people explore their sexuality and gender as they go through adolescence before developing a more settled identity²¹ and there has been an increase in young people exploring their sexuality and gender identity.²² Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to have a mental health disorder (34.9%) than those who identify as heterosexual (13.2%).²³ Being LGBTQ+ doesn’t mean someone will have mental health issues but they may be at higher risk of experiencing poor mental health due to their experiences (e.g., discrimination, social isolation). It is important that young people feel listened to, supported, and have access to clear and helpful information on sexuality and gender identity.

Will issues of books from Reading Well for young people (“Shelf Help”) still count towards Reading Well issue figures?

We will continue to count issues of books from Reading Well for young people towards our total issue figures until at least 2024 before reviewing our methodology beyond that time.

What age group does the scheme target?

Reading Well for children is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.

Were children involved in selecting the books?

Yes, all our Reading Well collections are co-produced with those with lived experience. For Reading Well for children, we worked with our co-production partner, Family Kids & Youth, and a diverse panel of children aged 7-11 and their siblings and carers.

Why have you included books about bereavement?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group following a thorough evidence review, in line with our book selection protocol and mapped against our book selection framework.

Evidence shows experiencing bereavement and loss has a detrimental impact on children and young people, including on their wellbeing and mental health. 92 per cent of young people in the UK will experience what they see as a ‘significant’ bereavement before the age of 16.²⁴ Those who experience multiple bereavements, or bereavement alongside other difficulties, are statistically ‘at risk’ of experiencing negative outcomes (in areas such as education, depression, self-esteem and risk-taking behaviour) later in life.²⁵ Providing clear, honest and age-appropriate information can help children cope with bereavement and loss.

Why have you included books about ADHD?

The books included on Reading Well for children have been identified and chosen by our expert book selection panel and co-production group following a thorough evidence review, in line with our book selection protocol and mapped against our book selection framework.

About one in sixty (1.6%) 5 to 19 year olds had a hyperactivity disorder, with rates higher in boys (2.6%) than girls (0.6%).²⁶ NICE outlines that untreated ADHD can have far-reaching, long-lasting negative impacts on a child or young person’s life, and recommends children or young people affected are supported with structured discussion of the impact of ADHD, behavioural signs and things that can help.²⁷ The Reading Well for children booklist provides children and their parents and carers with expert-recommended, age-appropriate books on this topic to read and discuss together.

Why have you included books about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

All the books included in the collection have been selected by our book selection panel and co-production group against our book selection framework.

The NHS identifies 1.2% of 5 to 19 year olds have been identified as living with ASD.²⁸ Autism impacts the development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.²⁹ For children and young people with a diagnosis of autism, NICE recommends appropriate information should be shared with parents or carers and the child or young person, to explain what autism is and its likely effects.³⁰ Furthermore, children and young people with autism, and their families and carers, should be provided with information about autism and its management and the support available on an ongoing basis, suitable for the child or young person’s needs and developmental level.³¹ Reading Well for children is designed to provide children and their parents and carers with informative, reliable and age-appropriate reading material.