Connections Suite

The Connections Suite is situated on the lower level of Dundee Central Library. The space has been specially adapted to accommodate Reading and IT Groups. Having this dedicated area gives the groups a safe, relaxing and comfortable environment, that they can identify with, and feel safe and secure. Paintings done by the groups are displayed in this department, and there are also plans to display sculptures that the groups have worked on recently.



Many photographs also adorn the walls of the reading area, giving the groups a sense of ownership and belonging.




The Connections Suite also has a range of resources available to borrow which could help carers and family members of vulnerable people, these include books on Makaton, Storybook and Storystarter cards, as well as colour cards and books on emotions, family, behaviour and feelings.
We also have a range of books on dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD.

There is a self-help section in this department which has CD's and books on motivation, ,empowerment, relaxation manuals and alternative therapies. Audio books on tape are also located here, as well as a selection of picture books, which carers, or families, may want to borrow, or read aloud in a secluded seating area of the department . A carrel in this department also houses a Kurtzweil Reader and a magnifier to aid people with visual problems. There is also storage space, used to hold all the resources required for the reading and IT sessions.

The IT space has eight computers available for vulnerable group use These have a printer and scanner attached. Specialised software such as Boardmaker, Texthelp-Read and Write, Kidspiration and Inspiration is also available on these terminals.

IT Groups in Central Library

Since September 2009 we have been running It groups in the Connections Suite of the Central Library for groups with special or additional needs. At present we have seven groups who attend on a weekly basis. Most groups stay for a two hour session. For the first part of the session we tend to look at things that would interest the individual users, this could be music sites or family history for example, or in some cases playing simple graphics games to improve motor and cognitive skills,such as UK Learn after a short refreshment break we then work on an IT project. At the moment we are working on individual personal story books. Staff compiled a list of ideas that could feature in the book such as, favourite time of the year, future plans, descriptions of themselves etc. These pages are accompanied by photographs, or images, to illustrate the book. These images were chosen by the individual ,who also dictated as to what should be written and what would be included into the book. Some people, with mild learning problems, needed very little help, mostly just with spelling, and some computer applications, while others who had less communication skills, and more severe learning problems, were able to express what they wanted by using Makaton or simply pointing to the screen. Once the book is complete it is then given a cover and bound. The user is then able to take the book home with them as an example to show friends and family what they have been working on and then they have a very personal and unique book all about them and their likes and dislikes. These books can also be beneficial to carers and helpers in finding out more about the person they are supporting.

Judy Paterson Tells Stories to Special Needs Groups

Judy Paterson visited the library to tell stories to one of our Reading Groups, whose members have learning and physical difficulties. Judy brought along photographs of her horse and explained to the group how her own horse was used in many of the illustrations in her books.
She then told the story of 'Tamalane', and again Judy's own horse featured in the story. Many of the group participate in ' Riding for the Disabled', and have a love and affinity to horses, as Judy herself clearly does . The group enjoyed the story and were able to recognise the horse illustrations and appreciate the process of illustrating a story. Judy also told other stories, which she had gathered from around the world.

Anne Errington Visit

This week we had a visit from storyteller and performer Anne Errington. Anne was telling stories to our a reading group of young people who have challenging behaviour and live in residentail care .
She gave a wonderfully animated rendition of several legends and myths from around the world. These included the stories of Hercules and Prometheus. She told a legend from Finland and ended the session with a story from Scotland, which had striking similarities to the Scandinavian tale.




The group, of about fifteen young people, and their carers, thoroughly enjoyed Anne's storytelling and were enraptured by the performing skills she utilised to bring the story to life. Many of the members of the group, as well as their carers, commented on how much they had enjoyed the session, and how different it was from anything that they had experienced before. Some compared it to being at a theatre and watching a play, but with a front row seat and a smaller audience.

In and Out of This World

The latest initative for the Reading Groups was a project which we called "In and Out of This World". We selected several different regions which included, Polar Lands, Deserts, Rainforest, Underwater, Space, Day and Night, Space, Town and Country and Underground. We collected together artefacts as well as books that tied in with these themes, and each week delivered a storytelling session on that topic.

At the outset of the project we made keyrings for each member of the group with their photograph on it aand a legend saying "In and Out of This World". Each week, if the person attended that session they were given a card to attach to their keyring with had pictures of the area we had travelled to, as well as text indicating that the person had heard stories relating to that subject. This was to encourage users to attend each week as well as to act as a reminder of what topics had been covered in previous weeks.

Although the project proved successfull, it didn't have the same level of interest or commitment that 'The World Reading Route' had achieved. When staff discussed the reasons behind this, it was felt that, perhaps, members of the groups could not see how the topics directly related to each other and that the 'World Reading Route' initative had introduced, for the first time, the concept of using food and tastes to enhance the storytelling process.

Christmas Event

This year the Central Library held a Christmas event for vulnerable groups. Over eighty people from the groups attended, as well as carers and helpers. We had music, refreshments and storytelling. It was a great oppotunity for carers, helpers and group members themselves to get together. The event brought together eleven IT and Reading groups, for a relaxing and enjoyable afternoons' entertainment.

Jess Smith , author and storyteller, told several stories and sang songs at the event, and a Dvd was shown, which the groups had participated in making. The film showed the work being done with the reading and IT groups. It also recorded comments and feedback from useres, carers and library staff working with the groups. Individuals were pleased to see themselves on the film and everyone cheered when they saw someone they recognised. Copies of the Dvd were made and handed out to each group.

This is an important event that, once a year brings everyone together, and makes people aware of the diversity of work that is being carried out with vulnerable groups in the Central Library