A SURVEY OF THE PRESENT STATE OF BIBLIOTHERAPY INDICATES THAT MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED BEFORE THIS DISCIPLINE CAN DEVELOP INTO A MORE EXACT SCIENCE. DEFINITIONS OF BIBLIOTHERAPY VARY FROM SIMPLY "THE USE OF READING IN THE TREATMENT OF THE SICK" TO DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ROLE OF THE LIBRARIAN AND HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE DOCTOR AND PATIENT. RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD AGREE, HOWEVER, THAT READING, AS PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S PAST LIFE, AFFECTS HIS PERSONALITY AND HIS PRESENT OUTLOOK, AND THAT CONTROLLED READING AS VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE MAY HELP HIM MODIFY OR ACCEPT HIS ATTITUDES TOWARD LIFE. ALTHOUGH AVAILABLE STUDIES ARE INADEQUATE FOR DECISIVE CONCLUSIONS, BIBLIOTHERAPY COULD BECOME A VALUABLE TOOL WHEN RESEARCH HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT IN SUCH AREAS AS (1) THE EFFECTS OF SPECIFIC BOOKS ON CERTAIN TYPES OF PATIENTS, (2) THE RELATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL READING BACKGROUND AND PERSONALITY ADJUSTMENT, (3) THE METHODS OF MEASURING BEHAVIORAL CHANGE EFFECTED BY BIBLIOTHERAPY, AND (4) THE FEASIBILITY OF WRITING BOOKS FOR SPECIFIC TYPES OF PATIENTS. (THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN "THE ENGLISH TEACHER," VOL. 7 (DECEMBER 1967), 21-24.) (LH)