Developing Library Services for Older People:

An investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Jackie Mayes

Library Assistant: Libraries NI

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

• The number of people of current pensionable age in Northern Ireland is projected to increase by 9% in the next 5 years

• 40% over the next fifteen years

• The structure of the Northern Ireland population is quite clearly one of an ageing society

• Figures presents both challenges and opportunities for public libraries in Northern Ireland.

• First wave of the baby boomer generation (those born between 1946-1965) will turn 65 in 2011.

Population Projections NISRA (2007)

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Aims and Objectives:

Aim:

How can library services develop, enhance and expand to meet the current and future needs and wants of older

people?

Objectives:

What role should the public library service be playing to meet the needs and wants of older people?

What services would older people expect from their public library service?

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

A Review of the Literature

• Libraries can be “ageist” devoting energy dividing children’s services into age- appropriate segments, while adult services are clumped as “18 until death”. (Kleiman, 2008)

• Both Ardelt (2000) and Dench and Regan (2000) agree that learning plays an important role in productive ageing.

• They are the ‘demanding generation’ and their expectations will be higher. They strive to remain youthful and view retirement as an active period of their lives. (Kahlert, 2000)

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Literature Review Cont’d.

• Redefining old age - 60 is the new 30 (Dempsey, 2007)

• Are epitomised as the ‘wanting in now’ generation (Williamson et al. 2006)

• View retirement as a time to pursue hobbies and leisure activities (Chan and Yap, 2009), change careers (Johnston, Kawachi and Lewis, 2009), travelling, volunteering and more education (Lang, 2001)

• Not an homogenous group - beware of stereotyping and putting ‘boomers’ into one category.

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Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Research Method - Qualitative Approach

• explore participants views, opinions and perceptions in relation to how public library services can meet the needs of older people.

• qualitative research is more concerned about how people feel about a particular subject, exploring their attitudes and experiences.

• researchers adopting a qualitative perspective are more concerned to understand individuals’ perceptions of the world. (Bell, 2005)

• the interpretivist approach helps the researcher understand how others view their world (O’Donaghue, 2007)

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Data Collection Methods:

Semi-structured one-to-one interviews with four Branch Library Managers within Libraries NI and a Gatekeeper from an agency for older people.

“The purpose of interviewing is to find out what is in and on a person’s mind…, to access the perspective of the person being interviewed …, to find out from them things that we cannot directly observe.”(Patton, 1990, p. 278)

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Data Collection Methods Cont’d.

Two Focus Groups with participants, male and female, aged between 55-65, recruited from libraries and community groups in the Greater Belfast area.

“a group of individuals selected and assembled by researchers to discuss and comment on, from personal experience, the topic that is the subject of the research”. (Powell, Single and Lloyd, 1996, p. 499)

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Data Collection Instruments

• An Interview Schedule was used for all interviews.• The Interview Schedule was designed in order to achieve the

aims and objectives of the research.• In light of the literature review, the Interview Schedule consisted

of questions that focused on the following topics:

the baby boomer generation the information needs of older people the role of the public library ageism and active ageing

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Data Collection Instruments Cont’d.

• Briefing sheets were used for the focus group sessions• Briefing Sheet consisted of questions and topics relating to

research goals.• The questions and topics covered were:

the baby boomer generation library services/programmes/

activities library usage ageism and active ageing retirement issues

Developing Library Services for Older People

An investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Data Analysis:

• All interviews and focus group sessions were transcribed, where possible, after each one had taken place.

• Reading and re-reading of all transcripts to familiarize with data.

• Identification of themes/codes.

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Some of the themes identified:

• Baby boomers - A demanding generation? A different generation? How they perceive themselves. Library Expectations.

• Perceptions of ageism• The importance of active ageing; Libraries and active

ageing• Library usage• Barriers to library use• Library stock• The library: a physical presence; a positive influence• Information technology

Developing Library Services for Older PeopleAn investigation into the Baby Boomer Generation

Conclusions:

This study is in no way a criticism of the services that public libraries provide for older people in Northern Ireland but would hopefully be able to provide an input into their future development.

highlight the importance the library service plays in the lives of older people

make a contribution towards developing a library services strategy for older people in Northern Ireland, so that libraries can be tailored to meet their needs.