Tanya Duthie

1. Dundee Dementia Library Service
Tanya Duthie
Senior Library & Information Officer
Leisure & Culture Dundee

2. Project Background
• 90,000 people in Scotland have dementia.
• 3,200 of those are under 65 (Alzheimer’s Scotland 2015).
• 2,741 people in Dundee have dementia.
• “ From a user perspective dementia information can be
confusing and difficult to navigate” (Scotland’s National
Dementia Strategy 2013 -16).
• “Even persons with a middle-stage dementia can benefit
from reading literature and obtaining information” (IFLA
Guidelines For Library Services to Persons with Dementia).

3. Our project has aimed to
• Provide a specialised resource collection relevant
to people living with dementia, carers and indeed
anyone wishing to find out more about the
condition.
• Enable well trained and informed library staff to
contribute towards building a dementia friendly
community.
• Offer a comfortable, convenient meeting space
and opportunities for group interaction and
reminiscence which can reduce social isolation.
• Reduce any perceived stigma relating to dementia
by positively promoting the service to library
users, stakeholders and the wider community.

4. Project Delivery
• Dedicated, centrally located, accessible service
area.
• Safe, welcoming, non clinical setting.
• A quality collection of over 300 titles.
• Smaller mirror collections across the city.
• Trained, enabled, dementia aware library staff.
• Strong working partnerships.
• Reminiscence sessions, meetings and
information events.
• Dementia focused tie-ins to regular events.

5. Additional Project Outcomes
• The Dementia Library is now an established
part of Dundee’s service portfolio.
• Local and national publicity have raised the
library profile.
• Finalists in Scottish Dementia Awards 2015.
• Dementia Ambassador on library staff to
inform future developments.
• Continuing support from stakeholders and
partners.
• Sharing practice and experience through
feedback to SLIC.

6. Ready to get involved?
SHOPPING LIST
1 Books on Prescription
Dementia Collection
£160.00
1 Pictures to Share
Collection
£92.00
100 Reading Lists
£5.75
10 A3 Posters
£3.80
Total £261.55
• Identify and promote relevant
titles in your existing stock.
• Where possible buy additional
titles.
• Investigate collection options -
static, rotating or dispersed.
• Add links to suggested reading
on your website.
• Create themed reader events.
• Co-operate with neighbouring
authorities.
• Encourage colleagues to become
Dementia Friends.

7. Thanks For Listening
tanya.duthie@leisureandculturedundee.com