Library Services to Older Adults: Best Practices
By Kerry Maher, Baby Boomer Librarian, King County Library System
Who do we define as “older adults”? The first of America’s 77 million Baby Boomers turned 65 this year, and most of them have no intention of being considered a senior citizen for quite a while. They are redefining what getting old and retiring means today, so libraries need to redefine their services to “older adults.”
Some libraries use 50+ as their name for this target group, but isn’t there really more than one target group in the 50+ segment? “The typical Boomer believes that old age doesn’t begin until age 72.” The Pew Internet & American Life Project defines the generations as Younger Boomers (Ages 46-55), Older Boomers (Ages 56-64), the Silent Generation (Ages 65-73), and the GI generation (Age 74+). That’s four different target groups in the 50+ segment.
Transforming Life After 50: A Resource for Librariesemphasizes that increased longevity gives Baby Boomers options for new transitions. “Baby Boomers prefer intergenerational environments; are the wealthiest group in history, but also face financial insecurity; have benefited from medical advances and stay active longer; have a thirst for lifelong learning; participate as a volunteer on a regular basis; and sometimes work past “retirement” age or find part-time jobs after retirement. They also are big fans of social networking.
What is the best way to market services to these “older adults”? Libraries can help older adults navigate these new transitions with which they are faced. I discovered two libraries offering interesting services beyond the usual 50+ topical guides/programs. What I mean by that is, libraries often assume that the 50+ crowd all need Large Print; for example (maybe they do, but Boomers probably won’t check it out…they are downloading books!).
New Haven (CT) Free Public Library has a 50+ Transition Center. They offer classes in Investing, Managing Your Money, Ask about Social Security, Get Your Passport, One-on-One Computer Instruction and Yoga.
New York Public Library has a 50+ library blog called the Next Chapter. Staff and others blog about events that matter to Boomers: Women Making History in the Second Half of Life, Financial Literacy, Celebrate the Earth and Us, and Aging Creatively.
I may have missed several libraries that are offering innovative services for older adults. However, I was shocked at how difficult it was to find many. Public libraries…you have yet to figure out the best practices for serving “older adults.”
