Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ your library
Tips and tools on assisting older adults from the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services
Resources
Further Reading
Ahlvers, Alicia. “Older Adults and Reader’s Advisory.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, Vol. 45, #4 Summer, 2006, pp. 305-312.
Dilger-Hill, Jeannie and Erica MacCreaigh, eds. On the Road With Outreach Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
Honnold, RoseMary and Saralyn A. Mesaros. Serving Seniors – A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians. Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2004.
Mates, Barbara T. 5-Star Programming and Services for Your 55+ Library Customers. ALA Editions, 2003.
Additional Resources
ALA/Office for Literacy and Outreach Services web page for Services for Older Adults.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/olderadults/servicesolder.cfm
California State Library, Transforming Life After 50 Initiative.
http://transforminglifeafter50.org
Guidelines for Library and Information Services to Older Adults. Library Services to an Aging Population Committee, Reference Services Section. Reference and User Services Association, Revised 2008.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/libraryservices.cfm
Large Print for All, a webinar on all aspects of large print materials, marketing ideas, and best practices.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/blog/770000077/post/760025676.html
Making Your Website Senior Friendly, Tips from the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine.
http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/website.htm
Mates, Barbara T. and Associates.Serving Seniors: A Resource Manual for Missouri Libraries. Missouri State Library, 2001.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/library/development/services/seniors/manual/
Osborne, Robin, ed. From Outreach to Equity: Innovative Models of Library Policy and Practice. American Library Association. Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, 2004.
Programming Tools
ALA Public Programs Office (http://www.ala.org/ppo) fosters cultural programming through book and media discussion series, offers grants with essential resources for conducting high-quality cultural programs, and information on successful program models.
ALA’s Library Gaming Toolkit (http://librarygamingtoolkit.org) includes great ideas for using gaming with people of all ages.
Elder-berries: Library Programs for Older Adults, an electronic publication from the Ohio Library Council’s Outreach and Special Services Division (http://www.olc.org/OutreachElderberries.asp); a collection of program designs on topics such as travel, fine arts, intergenerational, and holidays.
BiFolkal Productions, Inc. (http://www.bifolkal.org) has produced outstanding reminiscence-based programming kits for over 30 years. See their web site for monthly newsletters filled with program ideas.
Eldersong Publications (http://www.eldersong.com) produces creative activity materials for older adults; see their newsletters and ideas for activities
Discussion Forums
Sign up for these discussion lists to find librarians who are serving older adults:
Aging@ala.org; sign up at http://lists.ala.org
Assoc. of Bookmobile & Outreach Services; sign up at http://abos-outreach.org/lists/listinfo/mailman
Seek out blogs with useful information or write your own. Pasco County (FL) Library System’s Senior Services blog is a good place to start: http://pascolibraries.org/social.shtml.
Share your experiences with the rest of us: contribute information on discussion lists and blogs; write articles for senior and library publications; record videos of your programs and activities and post on YouTube; have displays and speak at library and senior conferences.
Further Information
For more information, please contact ALA’s Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS), (800) 545-2433, ext. 4292, or visit http://www.ala.org/olos.
For a list of updated resources on aging, please visit OLOS’s Delicious page, www.delicious.com/alaolos/aging
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