Over 900 books for Alzheimer’s patients. UWB Library hands over collection proceeds

Thanks to students, staff, and the public, clients of the Senevida Nepomuk care home were delighted with the new titles. This year’s collection brought in more than 900 books across a range of genres.

Nearly half a van was filled with banana boxes packed with books by librarians from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. On Wednesday, March 18, they delivered them to the Senevida Nepomuk care facility, which looks after people with Alzheimer’s disease and various types of dementia. A total of 900 volumes were donated to a good cause during a month-long collection held at the University Library.

“We were very pleased by how many people took part in the collection. To ensure we received the books in good condition, we set a publication date limit of 2010. Donors most often brought novels, detective stories, classic literature, and children’s books,” said Miloslava Faitová, Director of the University Library.

The donated books were received by the facility’s staff, who will gradually incorporate them into their libraries and make them available to clients. According to them, reading plays an important role in activation programs that help people with Alzheimer’s maintain mental activity, support memory and orientation, and at the same time bring joy and a sense of calm. “Our library is not very large, and we enjoy reading with our clients. When it comes to the type of literature, we also welcome children’s books, as our clients are in a demanding health situation—sometimes larger print and illustrations are more suitable,” said the facility’s director, Petra Štenglová, earlier.

Senevida Nepomuk provides care for people who, due to their condition, require a special regime and support in everyday life. The care also includes a range of leisure activities, in addition to reading, such as social gatherings, music programs, or memory training.

The Donate a Book initiative is held regularly at the University of West Bohemia on February 14, International Book Giving Day. Each year, the library selects a different organization that can benefit from the donations. Last year, the University Library donated books to the Harmonie Home in Mirošov. A year earlier, selected titles went to the St. Zdislava Home for mothers with children in need.