Durham County Library Receives Bright Ideas Grant from State Library

Durham, NC — Durham County Library is pleased to announce its receipt of a State Library of North Carolina (SLNC) Bright Ideas Grant in support of the Library’s Older Adult and Shut-In Services (OASIS) program. The grant funds will support the upgrading of OASIS’ reminiscence therapy kits. The purpose of reminiscence therapy kits is to provide an interactive set of resources for adults living with dementia and their caregivers.

Audiovisual materials, music, activity supplies, reading materials, and other items empower adults living with dementia to build bridges of memory with their caregivers and ultimately improve their quality of life. Serving approximately 1,800 individuals from over 40 nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, and retirement communities, OASIS has been among Durham County Library’s most popular programs since its inception over 20 years ago.

“I am thrilled that we will be able to provide revamped kits for all Durham County residents seeking out reminiscence therapy,” said Karlene Phillips, manager of the Bright Ideas Grant and Durham County Library’s Family Literacy and Community Services unit. “These funds will be put to good use ensuring the materials in our collection reflect community needs.”

This project is supported by grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-249980-OLS-21).

Durham County Library encourages discovery, connects the community, and leads in literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational, and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit DurhamCountyLibrary.org.