Older People

A significant number of older people may have difficulties with mobility, eyesight or hearing loss and libraries have a range of services taking these factors into account.

If you live too far away from your nearest library, please check the mobile library routes to see if there is a mobile library which stops near you.

Every library has large print books and talking books for people whose eyesight is deteriorating. Large print books can be reserved free of charge, allowing access to the whole of the service's stock. Catalogues of the talking book stock are available from your local library. People who have difficulty reading print or handling books may borrow and reserve talking books free of charge.

We also hold information on opportunities and services, such as information on retirement, education, voluntary work, health, financial management, housing etc.

There is a home library service, Books on Wheels, for older and disabled people living in Cheshire West and Chester. Eligibility for this service depends on the ability of an individual to use branch or mobile libraries and the availability or otherwise of relatives or friends who can go to a library for them. Please contact your local library for more information about the service in your area.

Library Services to Elderly People’s Homes and Day Centres:

All residential homes can be provided with a collection of books. Provision of the service is based on the home signing up to a range of responsibilities. In some areas of the authority, we have a mobile library service which visits the residential homes in the area. Please contact your local library for further details.

Reminiscence boxes are available for loan to Elderly People’s Homes and similar organisations. These are themed collections of artefacts, books and other materials which can be used to stimulate discussion in a group setting.

Fully Booked boxes (themed collections of books designed for use by groups in an Elderly People's Home setting) are also available.