The purpose of libraries should be providing services to all users equally, including users with special needs among which there are also people suffering from dementia. In order to do this different types of users need to be recognized first, then appropriate services need to be designed for them. Dementia is a brain illness which is growing due to the growing number of older population. It presents a big social problem. Public libraries in the developed world have already recognized their important role offering support to people dealing with dementia, namely the patients and the support staff as well. The purpose and the aim of the master's thesis is to present possibilities of a public library for acting in the area mentioned, and to determine how active Slovene public libraries are at providing support to dementia patients and their support staff. Two different conversation methods have been used while researching. An electronic survey was directed to library managers of all Slovene public libraries. It revealed an insight into public libraries' activities in the area of dementia. The second, half-structured interview with twelve professionals from care homes for the elderly revealed their experience about cooperation with public libraries. The results of the research show that Slovene public libraries are not very active providing services mentioned. The results of the interviews show that professionals from care homes for the elderly have not yet recognized public libraries to be an important support partner when working with dementia patients. But mostly there is a wish to cooperate. With active involvement in the area, public libraries could become an indispensable partner in the wider support network and therefore retain and consolidate their socially important role in the future.
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