Libraries are often considered the heart of the community, but not everyone understands just how much they have to offer.

When it comes to dementia services, libraries have enormous potential to support people with dementia and their carers. While taking action to create a dementia-friendly library can initially feel like a massive undertaking, small changes can make a big difference.

Supporting People to Live Well with Dementia is a clear and accessible book that will provide a foundation for libraries in supporting their users and promoting more positive and inclusive attitudes towards people living with dementia amongst library staff, customers and communities more widely.

Author Sarah McNicol provides readers with an understanding of the different ways in which library customers may be affected by dementia, and an appreciation of some of the ways they can continue to contribute positively to their communities. The book then suggests ways in which libraries can better support people with dementia and their carers through approaches to customer service, design, resources, reading interventions, online provision and a range of other activities. As well as providing practical guidance, the book will also feature a range of case studies.

Dr Liz Brewster of Lancaster Medical School said of the book, “In considering the wide variety of creative resources and practices available when working with people with dementia, Sarah shows how libraries can become truly inclusive spaces. The book provides an accessible account of the impacts of dementia on everyday life and considers how library services might respond to these impacts. By focusing on putting the person with dementia at the centre, the book highlights simple and meaningful principles that can be practically implemented.”

About the Author: Sarah McNicol has been a researcher since 2000, working on over 70 research and evaluation projects across a number of disciplines at institutions that include including Manchester Metropolitan University, Loughborough University and Birmingham City University. She previously held roles as school librarian and as a tutor within the FE/adult education sector. Sarah has published widely within the information sector and beyond and was co-editor of Bibliotherapy (2018) and editor of Critical Literacy for Information Professionals (2016). Recently, Sarah’s focus has been on supporting people with dementia and their carers. This has included co-creating a comic with a group of people with dementia; evaluating a shared reading programme for carers; and research into a bibliotherapy project operating in care homes.

This book will be available from the American Library Association in North America and Canada and from Taylor & Francis in Australia and New Zealand.