The Van Alstyne Public Library and Danbury Public Library selected 2025 winners of the Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia
“The Van Alstyne Public Library is honored to be able to offer these invaluable Connection Kits to individuals in need throughout our community and the surrounding areas. This project has been on our hearts and minds for some time, and we are thrilled to bring it to life with the generous support of the Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia. We hope to provide meaningful assistance to those living with dementia, as well as their caregivers and loved ones. Our goal is to ease some of the emotional and practical challenges associated with this condition by offering carefully curated tools and educational resources. We believe these kits will foster greater understanding, enhance quality of life, and create stronger connections between individuals affected by dementia and their families. We are excited to begin this impactful initiative.” – Amber Rosenberg on behalf of the Van Alstyne Public Library
“For Van Alstyne Public Library’s “Connection Kits” program which will provide essential support and resources for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, directly addressing the daily challenges and emotional needs they face and raising community awareness.” – Award Committee Statement
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as a recipient of the Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia. At the Danbury Library, we believe in the power of libraries to create meaningful, inclusive spaces, and this program is a deeply personal reflection of that mission. With the support of this grant, we’re excited to launch Melodies for Memory, a program that brings together live music, memory care, and community to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. Music has the unique ability to unlock connection, joy, and reminiscence, especially for those navigating memory loss. We’re grateful for the opportunity to offer this healing experience to our patrons. We are deeply appreciative of the committee’s belief in our vision, and we look forward to making a lasting impact in our community.” – Julia Dennen on behalf of Danbury Public Library
“For Danbury Public Library’s “Melodies for Memories” program which will create a welcoming and dementia-friendly environment within the Library by integrating live music performances and cognitive and memory care resources in order to reduce social isolation and enhance emotional well-being for individuals with dementia.” – Award Committee Statement
The Van Alstyne Public Library
The Van Alstyne Public Library will enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia by creating “Connection Kits.” These themed dementia resource packs will support individuals in varying stages of dementia and provide caregivers with practical tools to manage daily challenges. The contents of each kit will include items like sensory-stimulating fidget quilts, which help maintain cognitive function, increase and maintain fine motor skills, and provide emotional comfort during moments of agitation or confusion. Additionally, memory aids such as puzzles, memory flashcards, and music therapy tools will be included to aid in memory retention and promote a calm, therapeutic environment. Each kit will include a book for caregivers and loved ones, as well as books based on the overall theme of the kit for patrons. Kits will also include links to digital resources like apps and websites to help better manage symptoms. Recognizing the unique experiences of those with dementia, the kits will also focus on strategies for managing common challenges such as the sunset syndrome and de-escalation techniques.
The library will offer these kits for checkout, allowing patrons to take them home just as they would other items in our collection. Furthermore, the library will collaborate with local senior centers and care facilities, support groups, and caregivers to ensure the kits’ effectiveness and to develop programs that raise dementia awareness within our community. These efforts will promote inclusion, dignity, and respect for people living with dementia, empowering both patrons and caregivers to navigate the challenges of dementia with greater ease and confidence. Through this initiative, we hope to challenge this stigma by creating a welcoming environment where people living with dementia feel respected, supported, and empowered. The dementia packs will serve as a bridge between the library and this underserved population, making library services more accessible and effective in meeting their unique needs.
The Danbury Library
The Danbury Library is excited to launch Melodies for Memory, an innovative program designed to support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers through live music engagement and cognitive and memory care resources. These funds will enable the library to provide monthly live performances by professional musicians specializing in memory care engagement and to develop a Memory Care Corner—a sustainable, dedicated space housing dementia-friendly books, activity materials, and caregiver resources, including Memory Lane Kits. The Danbury Library will partner with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO), a well-regarded organization with experience in memory care programming. Through six interactive live music sessions, professional musicians from the RSO will perform familiar, engaging songs designed to promote memory recall and social participation.
Beyond the live performances, Melodies for Memory will establish a permanent Memory Care Corner, providing essential resources for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. This dedicated space will feature a dementia-friendly book collection, including large-print and high-contrast books for cognitive engagement, as well as literature for caregivers, communication strategies, and personal narratives to offer support and guidance.
In addition to books, the Memory Care Corner will include interactive materials such as puzzles, memory games, conversation starter cards, and activity sheets, designed to encourage cognitive stimulation and shared experiences. A CD player for in-library use will also be available, allowing patrons to access the library’s nostalgic music collection. Through these resources, the Memory Care Corner will serve as a lasting hub for support, connection, and meaningful engagement.
A key feature of the Memory Care Corner will be the Memory Lane Kits, inspired by the successful model developed by the Glendale Library in California. These themed kits, centered on specific decades, will help spark memories and facilitate conversations between individuals with dementia and their caregivers. To further support caregivers, the library will develop printed resource guides featuring information about local support groups, recommended reading lists, and best practices for incorporating music into dementia care. By making these resources widely accessible, the program will empower caregivers and help them foster positive, meaningful interactions with their loved ones.
Melodies for Memory will directly benefit Danbury’s growing population of older adults by creating a more inclusive, dementia-friendly space within the library. It will also provide caregivers with valuable resources, guidance, and a supportive environment where they can engage with their loved ones. This project aligns with the mission of the Stephen T. Riedner Grant by offering new, evidence-based programming that enhances the quality of life for those living with dementia. By fostering community partnerships and expanding access to literacy-based and music therapy resources, this initiative ensures that individuals with dementia remain active, engaged, and valued members of the Danbury community.
The Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia was established in memory of Stephen T. Riedner by his wife, Mary Beth Riedner, and his sister-in law and brother-in-law, Jane and John Gallick. During his ten-year journey through a young-onset dementia, Steve’s strong spirit was always an inspiration. He was determined to maintain his identity, dignity and independence for as long as possible. He demonstrated by his example that people living with dementia deserve the same respect and consideration as every other human being.
Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People Living with Dementia presents two grants of $2,500 each and a citation to two libraries to support the development of services and programming to directly serve those living with dementia.
The RUSA Achievement Awards and Grants selection committee was chaired by Celia Ross.