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Youth services librarian proposes dementia-awareness training; trustees supportive
Summary
Mariana Sorensen proposed hosting a free, one-time Dementia Friends Massachusetts session for library staff that could require closing the building for a Monday afternoon; trustees asked about inviting other town departments and scheduling in early fall.
Mariana Sorensen, the library's youth services librarian, asked the board to support a one-time professional development session with Dementia Friends Massachusetts to help staff better interact with patrons showing signs of dementia and to assist their caregivers.
The director introduced Sorensen and said she had pursued the group after raising the idea in her staff evaluation. Sorensen described the training as roughly an hour to 90 minutes long and free, and said the best time for full staff participation likely would require closing the library on a Monday afternoon.
Trustees said they welcomed the training and discussed whether to invite other town departments that interact with residents — the police, fire, youth and family services, and the senior center were named — while keeping the program tailored to library staff. The director said he would coordinate scheduling and consult Vanessa Hale (assistant tenant administrator) and others about tailoring sessions for town employees.
"It's free," Sorensen said, noting the trainer could be flexible with scheduling. Trustees asked the director to confirm a specific date and bring it back for follow-up at a future meeting.
The director said he expected to have a proposed date by the next meeting; trustees suggested early fall (September or October) as a likely timeframe. No formal vote was required or taken on the training at the meeting.
