Training and facilitating the use of reminiscence resources in a health promotion library context

Health promotion libraries provide borrowable resources to support a wide range of health topics; resources are designed to be accessible and improve the impact of key health messages. Reminiscence resources aim to facilitate engagement and socialisation for people who find accessing long-term memory challenging. This article provides an overview of the reminiscence service provided by the Library Service at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. It will consider the rationale for providing this service, how resources are selected in collaboration with customers and how they are promoted through various approaches to library training. The library offers training to healthcare professionals and other customers caring for people with dementia; training demonstrates different ways in which reminiscence resources can be used. An impact case study completed by a customer following the use of a bespoke reminiscence memory box indicates that caregivers find the resources helpful in supporting people with dementia. This is particularly beneficial when carers have received training from librarians in using the resources. Tailored resources can be especially effective, as compared to generic or off-the-shelf items. Customer collaboration with librarians to inform and support collection development should be encouraged to ensure that resources reflect the needs of users.