Bromsgrove care home resident fulfils wish to return to library

A resident at a care home in Bromsgrove has returned to the library to reconnect with her past career and lifelong love of books.

When the team at Care UK’s Chandler Court learned former librarian Sheila Oliver, 91, was keen to revisit a library, they were determined to make her wish come true.

Born and raised in Handsworth, Sheila left school at 16 and began her career at Birmingham Central Library, before leaving to raise her first child. Although she no longer worked in libraries, her passion for reading never faded. 

The Recreation Road home’s team arranged a guided tour of Bromsgrove Library for Sheila, giving her the chance to see how libraries have evolved over the years.

She also browsed historical books, used the traditional date stamper and learned how library systems have become fully computerised and barcoded – much to her delight!

A highlight for Sheila was joining a baby sing-along and play group and seeing first-hand how libraries have become vibrant, welcoming community hubs for all ages.

Sheila said: “I enjoyed my day talking to the staff, looking around the library and seeing how different it is today, and learning about the services now on offer.

“I loved the baby group activity as back in my day, no children were allowed in the library and everywhere was very quiet.”

Sheila’s experience was part of Care UK’s Wishing Tree initiative, in which each care home encourages residents to put forward their dreams, allowing them to reconnect with a past hobby or try something completely new.

Joleen Rayner, Home Manager at Chandler Court, said: “Sheila regularly talks about her time working at Birmingham Library. She recalls how her then-boyfriend John, now husband, would pick her up after work at 8.15pm when the library closed for the night.

“Sheila had so much fun walking around Bromsgrove Library. She was delighted to see how libraries have become thriving, chatty community hubs. 

“A big thank you to the team and everyone at Bromsgrove Library for arranging the visit!”

Chandler Court is a state-of-the-art care home that provides full-time residential, dementia and nursing care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable its residents to lead enjoyable and fulfilling lives, it has its very own cinema, pub and hair and beauty salon, and there is plenty of space indoors and out for relaxation and recreation.