A new memory-themed book of short stories has been published to celebrate Dundee’s Dementia Library.
The free 70-page booklet, Patchwork Memories, was launched in an event at Dundee Central Library yesterday and is the first publication by Dundee Libraries Creative Writing Lab.
The release was scheduled to coincide with National Short Story Week, which aims to raise awareness and promote literary events and publications in the short story genre.
Library and information assistant, Anna Stewart, who helped found the group, said that members were eager to promote the library as a tool for those with dementia.
“It is about us talking about memory as a theme and to highlight the fact that we have all these resources,” she said.
“Having worked with the group for a number of years, it has been encouraging to see how dedicated the writers are to improving their craft, and how much they’ve learned from one another.
“They’ve worked on their stories for many months, always listening to the valuable feedback they’ve received from other members, and with open minds they’ve considered and revised their work to produce this short story zine.
“It is just one project out of many however, and we will look to publish more books on themes such as Lochee or the Wellgate in the near future.”
The Dementia Library has rented out an estimated 3,000 books since it was opened in 2015, the same year in which it reached the final of the Scottish Dementia Awards.
Those in attendance at the event spoke of the power of reading in helping dementia sufferers re-discover their memories.
Author Andrew Murray Scott said in a speech to attendees: “The book looks really wonderful.
“Groups like this are good because it gives us the chance to work with other writers.
“In regards to the Dementia Library, it really is true that writing is memory and memory is writing, so it’s a fitting theme.”
The book is available to pick up for free at any of the 14 public libraries throughout the city.
The writing group meets for two and a half hours on the first Tuesday of every month and encourage those interested in writing to come along and join.
