Research shows that many people living with dementia can still read and benefit from using a wide variety of library materials. View this webinar to hear practical advice on choosing reading materials uniquely suited to each individual, following the tenets of person-centered care. Presenters share simple ways to create more dementia-friendly libraries and provide examples of literacy activities and programs hosted at libraries and memory cafes around the world, including oral reading, browsing through books, singing, choral reading of poetry, and word games. Previously held misconceptions will dissolve when you see how libraries of all sizes can positively impact people living with dementia.

This webinar is hosted in collaboration with the Library Services for Dementia/Alzheimer’s Interest Group.

Presenters: Mary Beth Riedner, Retired Librarian, Creator of Tales and Travels, and Past Chair of Interest Group; and Tami Hurst, Adult Services Assistant, Olathe Public Library (KS), and Interest Group Member-at-Large

Access Recording

• View Webinar Recording (You will be prompted to log in to our free Course Catalog.)

Webinar Attachments

• View slides (pdf)
  
• View chat (xls)
• View captions (txt)
• Learner Guide (doc) Use alone or with others to extend your learning.

Related Resources and Links

• Library Services for Dementia/Alzheimer’s Interest Group (LS4DA)
• LS4DA Resources
• LS4DA Grant opportunity: Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia (Applications due February 17, 2023)
• LS4DA Google group page, for asking questions and for sharing programming and service ideas for the Alzheimer's and Dementia community. All are welcome but you must have a Google account and select “Ask to join group.” (This page explains how to create a free Google account using any existing email account.)
  
• Older Adults & Seniors, resources on WebJunction
• Alzheimer’s Association
  
• Facts and Figures, including 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (pdf)
• Stages of Alzheimer's
• Issue Brief: Living Arrangements of People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias: Implications for Services and Supports (pdf)
• Tales & Travels Memories and Tales & Travel Adventures Memory Cafés
• IFLA's Guidelines for Library Services to Persons with Dementia (pdf)
• Person-centered care, Alzheimer’s Association UK
• Is reading preserved in dementia? by M. Bourgeois, 2001
• Can she still read? How some people living with dementia responded to the reading experience by G. Claridge and S. Rimkeit, 2018
• Evaluating oral reading and reading comprehension in patients with dementia: A comparison of generic and personally relevant stimuli by J. Benigas M. Bourgeois, 2011
• Gary Glazner’s Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
• Tales & Travel: Developing Community Partnerships to Expand Library Services (pdf) by M. Lytle, 2016   
• Tales & Travel Study Results (pdf)
• Library services enriching community engagement for dementia care: The Tales & Travels Program at a Canadian Public Library as a case study, by J. Dai, et al, 2021
• A literature-based intervention for older people living with dementia (pdf), by J. Billington, 2013
• Literary Alzheimer’s, A qualitative feasibility study of dementia-friendly book groups, by S. Rimkeit and G. Claridge, 2017
• The impact of reading groups on engagement and social interaction for older adults with dementia: A literature review, by D DeVries, et al., 2019
• Dementia Friendly America
• Dementia Friendly America Network
• Library Sector Guide (pdf)
• Memory Café Directory
• Memory Café Percolator Network, Jewish Family & Children's Service
• Let’s visit…Downtown Champaign, IL (YouTube), Champaign Public Library
• Black History Month Activity book – Feb. 2022, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center
• NNLM webinar, Dementia Awareness for Public Libraries (YouTube)
• Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)
• Library Memory Project – 21 WI libraries
• Sing Along with Susie Q
  
• Midwest Genealogy Center