Public library services for people with dementia: A study of students’ perceptions

Abstract

Although librarians have not been traditionally recognized as professionals who provide care for persons with dementia, recent research indicates that libraries can contribute to the development of dementia-friendly communities. They can offer cognitive engagement and social inclusion events for people with dementia, provide information to their caregivers and educate the general public about dementia. In this article, the authors present the findings from a study that attempted to answer the following research questions: ‘How much do library and information science students in Croatia know about dementia?’ and ‘How do they perceive the role of public libraries in developing dementia-friendly communities?’ The study was conducted using a quantitative methodology among 183 library and information science students. Although the respondents had somewhat poor knowledge about dementia, they believed people with dementia have an inherent right to library materials and programmes suited to their specific needs, and that libraries can raise the quality of their life in the community.