Maplewood residents hooked on books
Wednesday, November 1, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
Whether it’s tales of romance that pique their interest or historical accounts, the lives of Maplewood residents are being enriched with literature.

Reading is providing an independent hobby for six seniors at the Brighton long-term care home. A library outreach program and a partnership between Friends of Brighton Public Library and Maplewood, provides novels to residents on a regular basis. Seniors are enjoying large-print books and books on tape courtesy of the program and the socialization provided by library volunteer, Noela Moffit.

After determining the residents’ interests, Noela arrives at Maplewood with an armload of books, which she retrieves after three weeks. Noela then visits with the residents and they discuss the book and determine future selections.

“It is a program because they’re getting contact with someone who normally wouldn’t be in the home,” says Chris Charlebois, life enrichment co-ordinator.

“The volunteer goes into residents’ rooms to discuss what they thought of the book.” Chris says this is valuable one-on-one time because some residents who don’t participate in regular activities benefit from the visit with Noela.

Friends of Brighton Public Library, a volunteer organization, was established in February and runs the visiting library program. The program brings novels and books on CD to local residents living at home, as well as those people who reside in long-term care homes and retirement residences in the Brighton area.

“I don’t think anybody should be without books, without being able to read,” Noela, director of the visiting library program, earlier told the OMNIway.

Noela says volunteers match books with participants’ interests and deliver and retrieve the literature. “We find out the likes and dislikes of someone who would like to be a patron of the program. We try to get the newest books to them.”

Chris approached the library to determine if it had an outreach program. She was pleased to learn about Friends of Brighton Public Library and the visiting library service, which initiated the new activity for residents.