The town is one of the first in New Zealand to offer the new Books on Prescription scheme, to be launched at Wanaka Library on Thursday.
Southern Public Health health promotion officer Sarah Berger said the scheme would be introduced in other Central Otago libraries.
It operates similarly to the Green Prescription scheme, whereby doctors prescribe exercise as part of treatment for illnesses.
The books scheme provides a range of evidence-based self-help books covering mild to moderate mental health problems, Ms Berger said.
The Wanaka library has 19 such books available, covering issues such as anxiety, bereavement and depression.
The scheme has been running in the United Kingdom since 2003.
