From ritual to resource: how a lifelong love of libraries sparked a countywide initiative

After Julie was diagnosed with young onset dementia she found she was no longer able to read the way she used to. She looked for new ways to enjoy the hobby she loved and with the help of Fiona Seed at Haslemere library, created a leaflet sharing her reading tips for people with young onset dementia. Surrey County Council has adopted the leaflet and promoted it across the libraries in their area.

Here Julie shares her experience and the leaflet they created.

As a child, I loved going to the library with my mother. It was a weekly ritual; quiet, comforting, and full of discovery. That sense of belonging stayed with me into adulthood. I took my own children to the library and continued to find joy in those shelves, always returning to that safe, familiar space.

“The library was more than books, it was belonging”

But when I was diagnosed with young onset dementia, I found myself no longer able to read in the way I used to. I stopped going to the library and I missed it deeply.

Eventually, I started borrowing books again, but I couldn’t really read them, I was doing it just to keep up my involvement with visiting the library. Then, by chance, I discovered the ‘quick reads’ section which contained shorter, more accessible books. These books helped me reconnect with the pleasure of reading, in a new way.

“Quick reads gave me back a little piece of myself”

That experience sparked something: I wanted to share what I’d learned with others facing the same challenges. I approached my local library with the idea of creating a leaflet, something friendly, practical, and completely different from a standard corporate style. Their open-mindedness made all the difference.

Together, we created something unique: a colourful, illustrated leaflet using different typefaces, sizes, and styles, making it easier to take in the tips. It’s warm, not clinical; encouraging, not overwhelming.

“It’s not just what you say, it’s how you share it”

Surrey County Council embraced it, and it’s now an official resource, available in libraries across the county and soon to be shared more widely online.

“Sometimes a small idea quietly changes everything”

A diagnosis doesn’t mean you give up. You give up the things you can no longer do—and you find new things you can do. You share what you learn along the way. You ask for help, try out ideas, and keep going with courage.

This project started with missing the library. Now it’s helping others find their way back too.

• Julie was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 65 and is a member of the Young Dementia Network. She has benefited from cognitive rehabilitation therapy sessions to manage her condition through specialist occupational therapist, Marcel Fewins, who is part of the Surrey and Borders NHS Partnership Trust and a specialist in the management of young onset dementia. 

June 2025