There's a Place for Us: CLA Session Notes

There’s a Place For Us: Notes

Chris Middlemass, a Public Services Manager for Vancouver Public Library, was kind enough to share her notes from the recent CLA session with Allan Kleiman and Christina Pottie.

Social Networking for Seniors – Allan Kleiman

• Social networking for seniors not fully present yet.
  
• Lots of competition for the baby boomers’ attention, but they are still working (no time), and their interests not fully represented yet
  
• AARP, Seniornet, Red Hat Society, ThirdAge increasingly have discussion/comment features. These seem very empty – can’t get figures on membership, etc. -- suspect not a huge membership, as their revenues are more based on advertising.
  
• Cranky.com – simple interface, targeting seniors – first age-relevant search engine
  
• Eldr.com – new magazine, larger print format, lots of white space
  
• Senior blogs- great way to connect people, keep mind active, experience the joy of “publishing” – 3% of online seniors have blogs!
  
• Ageless Project – blogs by “age”
  

Senior Spaces Project at the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library (Kleiman):

• New era in library services, opened on June 8, 2007
  
• Spaces for special age groups, hence, seniors not a new concept
  
• Wanted space to serve 3 generations of seniors – boomers, older adults, elderly
  
• Space with books and reading at the core
  
• Self-paced learning – DVD players, etc.
  
• Opportunity to gather/chat/take a class, etc.
  
• Funding from different sources -- $30,000 spent on the physical space – can start small! Started just by changing the colour of the area, and got furniture that blended with the library
  
• Accessibility – adjustable wheelchair tables, 2 wide screen computers for easier viewing – NO rocking chairs!
  
• Be prepared to move stuff around to get in right
  
• Develop a nice “merchandisable” name
  
• Don’t do alone – have an advisory group – library users (power users) who will give you great information (versus ongoing surveys)
  
• Optelec heavily used
  
• Merchandize shelving “Your Special Needs”
  
• Check out www.seniorspaces.blogspot.com for a flavour of the great things they are doing
  

Programming at the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library:

• Seniors Fridays – ½ done by the Seniors Services Librarian
  
• Gaming – Nintendo Wii is the hottest thing in town – teens trained the seniors – best idea – seniors loved working with the teens, etc. Regular Wii sessions, including 1-1 training!
  
• Opportunity to share experiences with older adults that is different from what they normally would do – exposure to social networking sites, etc.
  
• Seniors spaces is the catalyst!
  

South Shore Public Libraries: Christina Pottie

• Nova Scotia – counties all very important, politics, etc.
  
• South Shore Regional Library - Encompasses 2 counties which presents some challenges
  
• Large senior population – 15% of population are over 65 years, programs are proven to draw seniors into the library
  
• Seniors Library Café – open on “closed” Mondays. Full services, programs for users aged 55 and over, other branches offer different approaches
  
• the Café - facilitated by staff- you do need staff support
  
• eventually becomes self-directed – participants generate programs and ideas
  take into account competing programs - coordinate
  
• exploit local talent
  
• advertise – get out of the library
  
• have refreshments!
  
• Successful program – sharing letters from WWII
  

Why go to this effort?

• Increased membership
  
• Draws a different crowd
  
• Develop new partnerships
  
• Publicity for the library
  

Indirect benefits

• Good will
  
• Advocacy
  
• Community development
  
• Able to start a friends program
  

Computer training

• Adapt to different branch layouts and access to equipment
  
• Evolved to a 4-week session to bring people along who are beginners
  
• Advertise, be flexible
  
• Collect anecdotal comments
  
• Evaluate
  
• Local knowledge is important
  
• Be aware of competing with local agencies who do training for a fee
  

Questions:

• What’s special as libraries? We build a closer bond with our users, especially the seniors
  
• Fuzzy line with overlap with community centre programs – 75% of seniors are “unaffiliated” – this is a large group! Idea is that we’re providing options that complement, not compete with others. Possibility of sharing programming/programmers
  
• Use blogs for memory writing – local teens get volunteer credits for summer work, etc. Teens to help do the blog (e.g. creating, typing etc.)
  
• Suggestion: find large print keyboards