Library Memory Project Celebrates an Award-winning Year
2024 Memory Cafe with Sawdust the Miniature Horse. Photo courtesy of the Bridges Library System.
(WAUKESHA, WI) – The Library Memory Project is celebrating a successful and impactful year, serving 1,291 attendees through memory cafés, educational programs, and Family Day events in 2024. Recognized for its innovative memory café programming, the initiative was honored in November with the 2024 Wisconsin Library Association Programming Innovation Award. Memory cafés provide a social and supportive space for individuals experiencing early-stage dementia, mild memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), along with their family members, friends, or care partners.
“Our goal is to create welcoming spaces where individuals and their caregivers can connect, share, and find support,” said Angela Meyers, Inclusive Services Coordinator at Bridges Library System. “We are honored to receive this recognition, which is made possible by the dedication of our team and partners who bring these valuable programs to our community all year.”
In 2024, the Library Memory Project facilitated 72 memory cafés across 21 libraries within Bridges Library System. The six project areas across Jefferson and Waukesha counties offer monthly memory cafés featuring a variety of themes and other educational programs. All the programs provided by the Library Memory Project are free of charge and provide a supportive environment for sharing experiences and maintaining social connections.
To meet growing demand, the project also expanded its Family Day events to two gatherings this year, up from a single event in prior years. These special events provide an opportunity for larger groups of family, extended family, and friends to gather for activities and socialization outside of the scheduled memory cafés.
According to the CDC, approximately 6.7 million Americans are living with dementia, and projections estimate that this number will nearly triple by the year 2060. The Library Memory Project is committed to continuing memory cafés and dementia education programs in 2025. For more information and the 2025 memory café schedule, visit www.librarymemoryproject.org.
About the Library Memory Project
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
