Surfing the Senior Surfing the Senior TsunamiTsunamiServing Seniors in the Public Serving Seniors in the Public LibraryLibrary

The HypeThe Hype

““Senior Tsunami”Senior Tsunami” ““Age Wave”Age Wave” ““Graying of the Population”Graying of the Population” ““Baby Boomers Come of Age”Baby Boomers Come of Age”

When Does One Become When Does One Become Old?Old?

The RealityThe Reality

Three Senior Generations Three Senior Generations Baby Boomers: 65 and youngerBaby Boomers: 65 and younger Older Adults: Ages 65-85Older Adults: Ages 65-85 Elderly: Ages 85-105Elderly: Ages 85-105

Ethnically DiverseEthnically Diverse By 2030, 25% of the older population By 2030, 25% of the older population

will be minorities.will be minorities.

Baby BoomersBaby Boomers

Baby Boomer Cohort #1 Baby Boomer Cohort #1 Born between 1946 and 1955Born between 1946 and 1955 Epitomized the cultural change of the sixties Epitomized the cultural change of the sixties Key characteristics: experimental, Key characteristics: experimental,

individualism, free spirited, social cause individualism, free spirited, social cause oriented oriented

Beginning to age into “Senior” CategoryBeginning to age into “Senior” Category

Baby Boomer Cohort #2 Baby Boomer Cohort #2 ““Generation Jones”Generation Jones” Born between 1956 and 1964Born between 1956 and 1964 Key characteristics: less optimistic, distrust of Key characteristics: less optimistic, distrust of

government, general cynicism government, general cynicism

Silent GenerationSilent Generation

Born between Born between 1923 to 19431923 to 1943

Between the warsBetween the wars Came of age just Came of age just

too late to be war too late to be war heroes and just heroes and just too early to be too early to be youthful free youthful free spirits.spirits.

GI GenerationGI Generation

Born between Born between 1901–19241901–1924

Influenced by Influenced by Great DepressionGreat Depression

Fought in both Fought in both World WarsWorld Wars

Built foundation Built foundation for modern, for modern, suburban suburban America.America.

Facets of AgingFacets of Aging

““Age is an issue of mind over Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”doesn’t matter.”

Mark TwainMark Twain

Perceptions of Old AgePerceptions of Old Age

Potential ChallengesPotential Challenges

Decreased MobilityDecreased Mobility Decreased Hearing and/or EyesightDecreased Hearing and/or Eyesight Health issuesHealth issues Adults ages 65 and older:Adults ages 65 and older:

1 in 4 report experiencing memory loss1 in 4 report experiencing memory loss 1 in 5 report they have a serious illness, are 1 in 5 report they have a serious illness, are

not sexually active, or often feel sad or not sexually active, or often feel sad or depresseddepressed

1 in 6 report they are lonely or have trouble 1 in 6 report they are lonely or have trouble paying bills. paying bills.

1 in 7 report they cannot drive1 in 7 report they cannot drive 1 in 10 report they feel they aren't needed or 1 in 10 report they feel they aren't needed or

are a burden to others. are a burden to others.

Potential BenefitsPotential Benefits

Principles for Older Principles for Older PersonsPersons

IndependenceIndependence ParticipationParticipation CareCare Self-FulfillmentSelf-Fulfillment DignityDignity

Stellar Library ServiceStellar Library Service

AttitudeAttitude UnderstandingUnderstanding PatiencePatience RespectRespect PartneringPartnering

Know Your Know Your CommunityCommunityThe aging process has you firmly in The aging process has you firmly in its grasp if you never get the urge its grasp if you never get the urge to throw a snowballto throw a snowball

Doug LarsonDoug Larson

Ask Yourself…Ask Yourself…

What are the projections for the What are the projections for the aging of your community in 5, 10, aging of your community in 5, 10, or 15 years?or 15 years?

Do you know how many seniors use Do you know how many seniors use your library?your library?

How many seniors in your How many seniors in your community have library cards?community have library cards?

How many attend programs?How many attend programs?

PlanningPlanning

Senior Advisory BoardsSenior Advisory Boards Create ownershipCreate ownership Build SupportBuild Support User-centered changeUser-centered change

Survey your communitySurvey your community Opportunities for partneringOpportunities for partnering

Develop a PlanDevelop a Plan

Inventory current servicesInventory current services Assign dedicated staff (if feasible)Assign dedicated staff (if feasible) Include in your budgeting processInclude in your budgeting process

Library services are not the same Library services are not the same from ages 18-108!from ages 18-108!

Senior SpacesSenior Spaces

Everyone is the age of their Everyone is the age of their heart. heart.

Guatemalan ProverbGuatemalan Proverb

Dedicated SpaceDedicated Space

Children’s Area Children’s Area Teen Area Teen Area

Senior Area?Senior Area?

Senior SpacesSenior Spaces

Quiet & ComfortableQuiet & Comfortable AccessibleAccessible DestinationDestination Brain FitnessBrain Fitness

Senior SpacesSenior Spaces

Senior CollectionsSenior Collections

Youth is a disease from which Youth is a disease from which we all recover. we all recover.

Dorothy FulheimDorothy Fulheim

Dedicated CollectionDedicated Collection

Three generationsThree generations Different interests & needsDifferent interests & needs

Modified DeweyModified Dewey Easy, browsing formatEasy, browsing format

Focus on patronsFocus on patrons Large PrintLarge Print AV, E-Books, Downloadable AV, E-Books, Downloadable

AudiobooksAudiobooks

Areas of EmphasisAreas of Emphasis

Consumer HealthConsumer Health GenealogyGenealogy EmploymentEmployment RetirementRetirement FinancesFinances Issues of CaregivingIssues of Caregiving ComputersComputers HobbiesHobbies

Senior Senior ProgrammingProgrammingThe key to successful aging is The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as to pay as little attention to it as possible. possible.

Judith ReganJudith Regan

ProgrammingProgramming

Day, Afternoon, Evening, & Day, Afternoon, Evening, & WeekendsWeekends

Ask your advisory board!Ask your advisory board! VarietyVariety

IntergenerationalIntergenerational EngagingEngaging CreativeCreative TimelyTimely NostalgicNostalgic Hands-On / ParticipatoryHands-On / Participatory

Sample ProgramsSample Programs

MoviesMovies Book ClubsBook Clubs Senior Travel Series Senior Travel Series BiFOLKal kitsBiFOLKal kits Senior-led presentationsSenior-led presentations

ExpertiseExpertise HobbiesHobbies

Art classes, craftingArt classes, crafting Gardening, cooking, sewing, etc.Gardening, cooking, sewing, etc.

StorytellingStorytelling NostalgiaNostalgia

DiscussionsDiscussions

““Socrates Café”Socrates Café” Open discussion on pre-determined Open discussion on pre-determined

topicstopics Goal is discussion, not agreementGoal is discussion, not agreement

Attendees can agree or disagreeAttendees can agree or disagree

Intergenerational discussionsIntergenerational discussions Give seniors a voice!Give seniors a voice!

GamingGaming

Technology confidenceTechnology confidence Hand/eye coordinationHand/eye coordination Brain healthBrain health Social interactionSocial interaction Intergenerational bondingIntergenerational bonding Easy outreach programsEasy outreach programs

Senior TechnologySenior Technology

We've put more effort into helping We've put more effort into helping folks reach old age than into folks reach old age than into helping them enjoy it.helping them enjoy it.

Frank A. ClarkFrank A. Clark

Seniors OnlineSeniors Online

Technology ClassesTechnology Classes

Basics of ComputingBasics of Computing E-BayE-Bay Consumer HealthConsumer Health PhotographyPhotography

2.0 Technology2.0 Technology

Web SearchingWeb Searching cRANKy.com

BloggingBlogging Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Eons Downloading E-Books and MP3sDownloading E-Books and MP3s Twitter, FB, Texting Twitter, FB, Texting

Could be taught by teensCould be taught by teens

Senior MarketingSenior Marketing

It's sad to grow old, but nice to It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen. ripen.

Brigitte BardotBrigitte Bardot

TraditionalTraditional

NewslettersNewsletters NewspapersNewspapers Church / Synagogue BulletinsChurch / Synagogue Bulletins RadioRadio

Appeals to Older Adults and ElderlyAppeals to Older Adults and Elderly

ModernModern

WebsitesWebsites Email NewslettersEmail Newsletters Social NetworkingSocial Networking Text / Mobile MarketingText / Mobile Marketing

Appeals to BoomersAppeals to Boomers

PhrasingPhrasing

Don’t have to say “senior” in Don’t have to say “senior” in marketingmarketing

Age NeutralAge Neutral Graphics to show desired audienceGraphics to show desired audience

Local ConnectionsLocal Connections

Grandchildren don't make a man Grandchildren don't make a man feel old; it's the knowledge that he's feel old; it's the knowledge that he's married to a grandmother.married to a grandmother.

G. Norman CollieG. Norman Collie

CollaborationCollaboration

Senior Community FairSenior Community Fair Opportunity to spotlight services and Opportunity to spotlight services and

organizationsorganizations Great beginning for Advisory BoardGreat beginning for Advisory Board

Cross MarketingCross Marketing

Trade newsletter space with other Trade newsletter space with other organizationsorganizations Senior CentersSenior Centers ClubsClubs

Don’t forget Outreach!Don’t forget Outreach! Leave the library and go talk to peopleLeave the library and go talk to people

Agencies Providing Agencies Providing Services on AgingServices on AgingNone are so old as those who None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.have outlived enthusiasm.

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau

Indiana AgenciesIndiana Agencies

Family and Social Services, Division Family and Social Services, Division on Agingon Aging http://www.in.gov/fssa/2329.htm Includes listing of regional agenciesIncludes listing of regional agencies

Indiana Association of Homes and Indiana Association of Homes and Services for the AgingServices for the Aging http://www.iahsa.com/

Indiana Association of Area Indiana Association of Area Agencies on AgingAgencies on Aging http://www.iaaaa.org/

National OrganizationsNational Organizations

American Association of Retired American Association of Retired PersonsPersons www.aarp.org

Federal Administration on AgingFederal Administration on Aging http://www.aoa.gov/

EPA Age InitiativeEPA Age Initiative http://www.epa.gov/aging/

ResourcesResources

The years between fifty and seventy are The years between fifty and seventy are the hardest. You are always being asked the hardest. You are always being asked to do more, and you are not yet decrepit to do more, and you are not yet decrepit enough to turn them down.enough to turn them down.

T.S. Eliot, quoted in Time, 23 October 1950T.S. Eliot, quoted in Time, 23 October 1950

Senior SpacesSenior Spaces

Old Bridge Public Library, NJ http://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/diy/http://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/diy/

index.htmindex.htm

Tempe Public Library, AZ http://www.tempeconnections.org/http://www.tempeconnections.org/

Peabody Public Library, MA http://www.peabodylibrary.org/ptp/photos.htmlhttp://www.peabodylibrary.org/ptp/photos.html

Mary L Cook Public Library, OHMary L Cook Public Library, OH http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/index.php?http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/index.php?

option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Iteoption=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=82mid=82

SourcesSources Kleiman, Allan. Kleiman, Allan. Serving Seniors With PanacheServing Seniors With Panache, Lyrasis , Lyrasis

Workshop, October 26, 2009.Workshop, October 26, 2009. http://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/index.htmhttp://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/index.htm

Kleiman, Allan. Kleiman, Allan. Senior Spaces: The Library Place for Baby Senior Spaces: The Library Place for Baby Boomers, Older Adults & Their Families.Boomers, Older Adults & Their Families. World Library And World Library And Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference And Information Congress: 74th IFLA General Conference And Council, 10-14 August 2008. Québec, Canada Council, 10-14 August 2008. Québec, Canada http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla74/index.htmhttp://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla74/index.htm

Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality. June 29, 2009. Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality. June 29, 2009. http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1269/aging-survey-expectations-http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1269/aging-survey-expectations-versus-reality versus-reality

LifeCourse Associates, LifeCourse Associates, http://www.lifecourse.com/mi/insight/insight-overview.html http://www.lifecourse.com/mi/insight/insight-overview.html

Serving Seniors: A Resource Manual for Missouri LibrariesServing Seniors: A Resource Manual for Missouri Libraries . . http://www.sos.mo.gov/library/development/services/seniors/mahttp://www.sos.mo.gov/library/development/services/seniors/manual/ 11/1/2009nual/ 11/1/2009

Wikipedia, Baby Boomers, Wikipedia, Baby Boomers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer

Librarian Live Podcast, http://librarianlive.libsyn.com/ (July Librarian Live Podcast, http://librarianlive.libsyn.com/ (July 2009)2009)

http://www.myavatareditor.com/http://www.myavatareditor.com/

Websites Websites

Transforming Life After 50Transforming Life After 50

http://http://www.transforminglifeafter50.org/www.transforminglifeafter50.org/

Project through California State Project through California State LibraryLibrary

Intergenerational Center at Temple Intergenerational Center at Temple UniversityUniversity

http://www.templecil.org/http://www.templecil.org/

Thank You!Thank You!

Shauna BorgerShauna BorgerIndiana State LibraryIndiana State LibraryProfessional Development OfficeProfessional Development Officesborger@library.in.govsborger@library.in.gov