With the aging of our society we can expect that one out of every four or five Canadians will be 65 years or older within the next 30 years. At this time people in this age category are underrepresented among library users. If this situation continues we can expect a serious impact on our libraries, and how the public views the importance of the library.
Guidelines For Library Service To Older Adults
For the purposes of these guidelines, older people generally means persons aged 60 or older. This is the approximate age when one either chooses retirement, or begins to plan for mandatory retirement at age 65.
All public buildings must follow prescribed building codes, but these alone do not ensure a level of safety and comfort that older adults may need. Most of the basic requirements for access by people with disabilities are included in these codes, in human rights legislation and local by-laws and regulations. Older adults comprise a sizeable percentage of Canadians with disabilities, therefore the Canadian Guidelines on Library and Information Services for People with Disabilities (CFLA/FCAB 2016) should be consulted and used in conjunction with these guidelines for serving older people.
Florida is home to almost 5.2 million senior citizens and currently ranks highest in the nation for citizens who are 65 years of age and older. We aim to assist library staff in serving this valuable patron population.
OLOS gathers resources from outreach services throughout ALA, and older adults feature prominently. These resources include toolkits, best practices in references and programming, and reports on library programs throughout the country.
But of course, not all public libraries have been created equal. Over the years, the Canadian Federation of Library Associations has developed guidelines to support public libraries to design programs and services for older adults and people with disabilities.(9; 10) These guidelines offer some tips for adapting programs and services for this clientele.
3) Make the facilities accessible, safe and inviting. Ensure that collections dedicated to older adults are easy to access and use visible signage. Plan voice-detection programs, audiobooks or alternative formats, wheelchair ramps and elevators to facilitate access.
4) Make the library a hotspot to access news and information related to aging. Group information about government or community programs and services for older adults and caregivers, for example, or create a dedicated website for this clientele.
5) Plan intergenerational programs, whether in collaboration with local schools or day-care centres. Promote your activities in newspapers, community centres and residences, and engage older adults as volunteers.
In addition to asking people how they use their local public libraries, we also asked them about how much they felt they know about the different services and programs their library offers. We also examined how important Americans feel various library services are to their communities, and explored what sort of activities and resources people might be interested in using at libraries in the future.
We also asked our national survey respondents, as well as our focus groups, about some different ways public libraries could change the way they serve the public, and whether or not they thought public libraries should implement these changes (if they do not offer these services already). In a separate, qualitative questionnaire aimed at public library staff members, we also asked librarians and other library workers their thoughts on these services.
When we asked the library staff members in our online panel for their thoughts on these services and programs, many said that their library had either already implemented or should definitely implement many of them in the future. The programs that were most popular with these librarians were: having separate locations for different activities, offering free early literacy programs, coordinating with local schools, and having comfortable spaces for reading, working, or relaxing at the library. Many also said that they were eager to offer a broader selection of e-books for check-out.
Americans ages 16-64 are significantly more likely than older adults to express strong support for this idea, as are those who live in urban or suburban areas compared with those living in rural areas.
Women are significantly more likely than men to express strong support for this idea, and blacks and Hispanics are more likely to express strong support than whites. This idea was also more popular with those under age 50 than with older adults.
Recent reports by Pew Internet have examined some of the issues involved in e-book adoption at libraries, and have found that most Americans (57%) are unaware if their library lends out e-books or not; among recent library users, 5% borrow e-books.3In the past year, the percentage of Americans who read e-books increased from 16% of all those ages 16 and older to 23% as of November 2012. Among these e-book borrowers, the most common complaints as of December 2011 are a lack of titles (56% of e-book borrowers say they have encountered this) and long waiting lists (52%).4This idea was significantly more popular with adults ages 18-64 compared with those 65 and older, and those with at least some college experience are generally more likely to express strong support for this idea than those who had not attended college.
This idea was significantly more popular with blacks (66%) and Hispanics (62%) than with whites (40%), and those under age 50 are more likely to express strong support than older adults. Interactive learning experiences are significantly more popular with those who had not completed college compared with college graduates, as well as with those in lower-income households compared with those at higher income levels. Finally, those who live in urban areas are significantly more likely to express strong support for this idea than those in suburban or rural areas.
In addition to asking people for their preferences on some new library services, we also asked respondents whether they would themselves use a variety of possible new activities and features at libraries. Our list was weighted towards services that are rooted in technology and allow more tech-related interactions with libraries and at them.
Overall, blacks and Hispanics are significantly more likely than whites to be interested in all of the services we asked about. Older adults, especially those ages 65 and older, are the least likely age group to express an interest in any of these services. Respondents with the lowest levels of education and living in households making less than $30,000 per year are also often more likely to express a strong interest in these services than more educated respondents or those living in higher-income households. Looking at differences in responses by community type, we find that urban residents expressed more interest in many services, such as library kiosks, digital media labs and library-related cell phone apps, than suburban and rural residents.
Our librarian panel was most ambivalent about offering a cell phone app with GPS and library kiosks located around the community, with both seen as expensive and irrelevant for all but the largest libraries or communities. Digital media labs were the least popular potential service that we asked about; few already had these at their libraries, and while many librarians said they might be interested in offering these labs, they also foresaw issues such as the high costs of technological resources, a lack of staff time or expertise, and a lack of interest in their communities.
Over half of blacks (51%) and Hispanics (58%) expressed a strong interest in this resource, compared with 28% of whites. Urban residents (39%) are more likely than rural (29%) residents to express a strong interest in this service. Americans under age 65 are also more likely than those 65 and older to say they would be likely to use such a resource.
Many older adults have to adapt to a disability such as sight loss from macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts. Decreased mobility, poor nutrition, and injury from falling are related impairments associated with low vision in senior citizens. Many seniors feel depressed and isolated because of changes in their lives that stem from their disabilities. Depression has been shown to correlate with the abuse of alcohol and prescription drugs in seniors. New disabilities lead to unanticipated out-of-pocket expenses, including assisted living care, home modifications, and increased medication costs at a time when income is often fixed. In addition, isolation and reduced cognitive ability leave older adults open to abuse and fraud. Such challenges can be overwhelming for seniors and those who care for them.
This guide surveys a spectrum of organizations, online tools, and articles from government, academic, and nonprofit sources. All nonprofit sources are checked against the IRS Exempt Organization and Revoked Organizations, Charity Watch, GuideStar, and ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. While the primary focus of this guide is at-risk seniors, it also covers topics such as employment and federal and state benefits. New sections include nutrition for older adults, transportation and driving, and safety and emergency preparedness. Part Two contains a selective bibliography of current articles from academic journals and media sources highlighting recent research. The guide concludes with a directory of contact information for all sources in Part One.
Partners with state and federal agencies to ensure essential government programs are accessible to qualified seniors. Offers webinars, publications, and consultations related to the legal needs of older adults.
Directs older adults and their families to information on key Medicare-related topics, including where to sign up for Medicare, how to change plans, the benefits of Medicare drug coverage, and where to find Medicare forms for claims and appeals. Provides a searchable database of medical providers who take Medicare.
d0d94e66b7