More people facing loneliness and isolation in the island will receive support from the Family Library due to £5,000 grant.

The Isle of Man Family Library will be extending its ’in-demand’ bibliotherapy service after the Manx Lottery awarded a grant of £5,610 to boost the sessions.

Led by the Mobile Library facility, the bibliotherapy sessions allow residents to engage with each other and keep their minds active with friendly discussions about topics suggested by librarians.

The topics can include a range of reading materials to help those dealing with mental, physical, emotional, developmental or social problems.

Manx Lottery’s grant will go towards the purchase of CDs and audio players and will double the amount the library buys to widen subject matters.

Family Library executive director, Laura Jones, said: ’Bibliotherapy has so many benefits and such a generous grant by the Trust will make a big difference to a great number of islanders, allowing us to purchase extra resources and offer more sessions island wide.

’This initiative has become an important social activity and it’s already been shown that reading has proven power to help people manage their own mental health and wellbeing.

’However, it is not just aimed at people who read but those who have a mutual interest around books and photographs and enjoy talking and listening.

’This is an extension to our Home Library Service and one we see going from strength-to-strength.’

The library hopes to arrange bibliotherapy sessions in more residential homes for older island residents over the next few months.

Librarians at some of the island’s secondary schools have shown interest in providing the scheme, designed to improve mental health among teenagers.