Death Positive Libraries
Let's talk about death and dying
Research by Dying Matters shows that most people in the UK feel scared to talk about death. The Death Positive Libraries project works to create an open culture where people are more comfortable talking about death, dying and grief and can support others who are grieving.
Our libraries are safe and trusted spaces, with compassionate staff and volunteers who are well placed to bring people together to share stories and signpost to partner organisations and specialist support.
We work closely with writers, artists, community organisations, end-of-life specialists and academics to develop creative ways of bringing people together, so they feel supported, listened to and able to talk about death, dying and grief.
Books and support
The Reading Agency have a guide of books to help people understand and cope with grief as well as signpost to resources and organisations. Reading Well: Resources .
Curated eBook collection
Our staff and volunteers have curated a collection of eBooks about death, dying and grief. There are fiction and non-fictions books as well as books to share with children. Kirklees Overdrive: Death positive libraries collection .
Book list
Working with colleagues in Redbridge and Newcastle libraries we have compiled a wider book list which you can view below. This list contains academic titles which reflect the current work of specialist research in the area of Death Studies. View our Death Positive Libraries: Book list 1.
Support with death, dying and bereavement
Deaths, funerals and memorials.
- Age UK: Coping with bereavement
- Age UK: Let's talk about death and dying
- At a loss
- Bereavement advice centre
- Bereavement UK
- Carers UK: When caring ends or changes
- Child Bereavement UK
- Compassion in Dying
- Cruse: Bereavement Support
- Cruse Bereavement Support: Coronavirus, bereavement and grief
- Dying Matters
- End of Life Doula UK
- Family Lives: Coping with bereavement
- GOV UK: Death and bereavement
- Grief Encounter
- Grief Share
- HelpGuide.org: Coping with grief and loss
- Hope Again
- Hospice care finder
- Macmillan Cancer Support: Coping with bereavement
- Marie Curie Talkabout: Seven ways to say goodbye to a loved one without words
- Mind: Bereavement
- Muslim Youth Helpline
- National Children's Bureau
- NHS: Grief after bereavement or loss
- Social Embers: Virtual funerals
- The Art of Dying Well: What is dying well?
- The Compassionate Friends
- The Good Grief Project
- What's your grief?
- Widowed and Young
- Winston's Wish
- Young Minds: Grief and loss
Events
Catch up on some of our online events with authors, poets and film-makers below:
Life that has been voices
We held an event in Dewsbury Library as part of Dying Matters Week (May 2023). The Kirkwood supported the event where we promoted books and resources and created a safe space for people to share their thoughts and memories of people close to them who have died. Some shared personal stories and some read favourite poems or extracts from books. Sound artist Duncan Chapman (from the Manasamitra art organisation) captured the voices of participants and created this soundscape.
