Librarians and Mental Health: An Annotated Bibliography

Abstract

This annotated bibliography focuses on the literature dealing with the mental health of academic and public librarians. While there has been a longstanding focus on the issue of library patrons and their mental health, the mental health of librarians has long been ignored, making this annotated bibliography necessary. Aside from two articles written in 2007 and 2015, the remaining articles included in this bibliography were written between 2019 and 2025. This annotated bibliography comprises 10 sources: a book, six empirical studies, an essay, and two first-person narratives. The literature is primarily concerned with documenting the prevalence of mental health problems among librarians and the obstacles they face while also mentioning ways these obstacles may be addressed in certain instances. A common theme dealt with in the literature is the question of disclosure, with librarians describing both positive and negative experiences disclosing their mental illness in the workplace. The intended audience for this bibliography are librarians and library administrators in academic and public libraries. The purpose of this bibliography is to raise awareness among library administrators of the existence of librarians with mental health problems so that they may receive the accommodations they deserve if necessary. The purpose is also to show librarians with mental health problems that they are not alone in their struggles.