Boomers to Seniors: Library Models for Serving and Engaging Older Adults

Presented by  Claudia Perry, Associate Professor, Queens College, City University of New York
Suzanne Flint, Library Programs Consultant, California State Library

Midlife has extended as seniors live longer and healthier lives.

Volunteerism among this age group is higher than any other. Many want to get involved to help libraries. Libraries need to use volunteers in more strategic ways.

Traditional life stages are changing. Many stages overlap now. Adults want lifelong work, service, and learning. There is a new life stage between midlife and old age that spans 25-30 years of productive living. Many think their most important contributions lie ahead. A good example is Jimmy Carter. Many seek to add deeper meaning to their lives. This attitude leads to a different perception of aging. Most prefer to age in place within multi-generational communities. More generations are making up communities than ever before.

Engage this group:

Instead of                                                                                Think

Age                                                                                         stage

Illness                                                                                      wellness

Old/senior                                                                               active aging

Decline                                                                                    potential

Cared for                                                                                 independent

Avoid a one size fits all for programs. Rethink volunteer engagement strategies. Promote ageless concepts for all adults.

Not much data has been collected about library services and adult library programs for seniors.

The Brooking Institute is a source for trends among this population. (http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2011/06/28-census-age-frey) as is Pew (http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2009/06/29/growing-old-in-america-expectations-vs-reality/ )

Pew Research Center reports that 10,000 people turn 65 every day. (http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/baby-boomers-retire/ )

RUSA—Guidelines for Library and Information Services to Older adults-- http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/libraryservices

Models:

·         Users as content—

o       www.humanlibrary.org and the Santa Monica Public Library:  http://humanlibrary.org/living-libraries-america-launch-this-week..html

o       People of varying interests, abilities and persuasions available for check-out.

·         Health and training fitness (Palo Alto Public Library and Fresno)

·         Get Healthy @ the Library

·         Jobs Help (LA Public Library)

·         Reader Festival (Mission Viego Library)

·         Book to Action (Hayward Public Library, Roseville Public Library) Engaging in community service programs related to books.

·         New branding—Torrence Public Library has a link to lifelog information networks and knowledge

·         Santa Monica Public Library has ‘The Living Room’—a place for adults

·         Refresh You Life from Hayword Public Library provides resources for 50+ library services.

What libraries are doing:

·         Many libraries are doing 55 Alive with AARP. A nominal fee is required.

·         PC classes

·         Exercise

·         Health and Wellness

·         Intergenerational programs

·         Gaming Intergenerational Poetry Slam-- http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/programs/poetry_slams/

·         Books to Movies discussions

·         More that ½ of libraries have an outreach coordinator for older adults. (Look at RUSA guidelines, http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/libraryservices )

·         Pew Internet and American Life Project shows results of studies about technology, libraries, and various age groups, including seniors--http://www.pewinternet.org/Topics/Demographics/Seniors.aspx?typeFilter=5

·         Boomers Reflecting Sharing Learning is like a Storycore project done at the library. Athens Regional Library System is participating--www.boomersinathens.org/

·         It includes several kinds of lifelong learning workshops and events. People attend monthly. They can also watch through video conferencing or later from their website at www.boomersinathens.org and U_Tube. They are creating a best practices manual.

·         Work with the local historical society to create a similar ‘memories’ program. You can view their ‘Community Snapshots” on their website.

·         Resources:

·         Boomers and Beyond: Reconsidering the Role of Libraries by Rothstein and Schull

·         Boomer Volunteer Engagement by Fixler

·         Creative Aging Toolkit for Public Libraries—available for free online: http://creativeagingtoolkit.org/ Their blog is informative, also.

·         http://www.transforminglifeafter50.org/

·         Transforming Life After 50 is an initiative of the California State Library to address the interests and needs of midlife and seniors. Look at ‘What’s New?’.

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