This document discusses strategies for public libraries to serve an aging population. It notes that the "senior tsunami" refers to the large generation of Baby Boomers who will soon enter older adulthood. There are three senior generations with different needs. Libraries should understand the demographics of their community, form senior advisory boards, dedicate staff and budget to senior services, and provide comfortable spaces, relevant collections, and engaging programming for older adults. Technology classes and marketing should appeal to different senior segments. Collaboration with area agencies can strengthen outreach.

1. Surfing the Senior
Tsunami
Serving Seniors in the Public Library

2. The Hype
 “Senior Tsunami”
 “Age Wave”
 “Graying of the Population”
 “Baby Boomers Come of Age”

3. When Does One Become Old?

4. The Reality
 Three Senior Generations
 Baby Boomers: 65 and younger
 Older Adults: Ages 65-85
 Elderly: Ages 85-105
 Ethnically Diverse
 By 2030, 25% of the older population will be
minorities.

5. Baby Boomers
 Baby Boomer Cohort #1
 Born between 1946 and 1955
 Epitomized the cultural change of the sixties
 Key characteristics: experimental, individualism, free
spirited, social cause oriented
 Beginning to age into “Senior” Category
 Baby Boomer Cohort #2
 “Generation Jones”
 Born between 1956 and 1964
 Key characteristics: less optimistic, distrust of
government, general cynicism

6. Silent Generation
 Born between 1923 to
1943
 Between the wars
 Came of age just too
late to be war heroes
and just too early to
be youthful free
spirits.

7. GI Generation
 Born between 1901–
1924
 Influenced by Great
Depression
 Fought in both World
Wars
 Built foundation for
modern, suburban
America.

8. Facets of Aging
“Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
Mark Twain

9. Perceptions of Old Age

10. Potential Challenges
 Decreased Mobility
 Decreased Hearing and/or Eyesight
 Health issues
 Adults ages 65 and older:
 1 in 4 report experiencing memory loss
 1 in 5 report they have a serious illness, are not
sexually active, or often feel sad or depressed
 1 in 6 report they are lonely or have trouble paying
bills.
 1 in 7 report they cannot drive
 1 in 10 report they feel they aren't needed or are a
burden to others.

11. Potential Benefits

12. Principles for Older Persons
 Independence
 Participation
 Care
 Self-Fulfillment
 Dignity

13. Stellar Library Service
 Attitude
 Understanding
 Patience
 Respect
 Partnering

14. Know Your Community
The aging process has you firmly in its
grasp if you never get the urge to throw a
snowball
Doug Larson

15. Ask Yourself…
 What are the projections for the aging of
your community in 5, 10, or 15 years?
 Do you know how many seniors use your
library?
 How many seniors in your community
have library cards?
 How many attend programs?

16. Planning
 Senior Advisory Boards
 Create ownership
 Build Support
 User-centered change
 Survey your community
 Opportunities for partnering

17. Develop a Plan
 Inventory current services
 Assign dedicated staff (if feasible)
 Include in your budgeting process
 Library services are not the same from
ages 18-108!

18. Senior Spaces
Everyone is the age of their heart.
Guatemalan Proverb

19. Dedicated Space
 Children’s Area √
 Teen Area √
 Senior Area?

20. Senior Spaces
 Quiet & Comfortable
 Accessible
 Destination
 Brain Fitness

21. Senior Spaces

22. Senior Collections
Youth is a disease from which we all
recover.
Dorothy Fulheim

23. Dedicated Collection
 Three generations
 Different interests & needs
 Modified Dewey
 Easy, browsing format
 Focus on patrons
 Large Print
 AV, E-Books, Downloadable Audiobooks

24. Areas of Emphasis
 Consumer Health
 Genealogy
 Employment
 Retirement
 Finances
 Issues of Caregiving
 Computers
 Hobbies

25. Senior Programming
The key to successful aging is to pay
as little attention to it as possible.
Judith Regan

26. Programming
 Day, Afternoon, Evening, & Weekends
 Ask your advisory board!
 Variety
 Intergenerational
 Engaging
 Creative
 Timely
 Nostalgic
 Hands-On / Participatory

27. Sample Programs
 Movies
 Book Clubs
 Senior Travel Series
 BiFOLKal kits
 Senior-led presentations
 Expertise
 Hobbies
 Art classes, crafting
 Gardening, cooking, sewing, etc.
 Storytelling
 Nostalgia

28. Discussions
 “Socrates Café”
 Open discussion on pre-determined topics
 Goal is discussion, not agreement
 Attendees can agree or disagree
 Intergenerational discussions
 Give seniors a voice!

29. Gaming
 Technology confidence
 Hand/eye coordination
 Brain health
 Social interaction
 Intergenerational bonding
 Easy outreach programs

30. Senior Technology
We've put more effort into helping folks
reach old age than into helping them enjoy
it.
Frank A. Clark

31. Seniors Online

32. Technology Classes
 Basics of Computing
 E-Bay
 Consumer Health
 Photography

33. 2.0 Technology
 Web Searching
 cRANKy.com
 Blogging
 Social Networking
 Eons
 Downloading E-Books and MP3s
 Twitter, FB, Texting
 Could be taught by teens

34. Senior Marketing
It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen.
Brigitte Bardot

35. Traditional
 Newsletters
 Newspapers
 Church / Synagogue Bulletins
 Radio
 Appeals to Older Adults and Elderly

36. Modern
 Websites
 Email Newsletters
 Social Networking
 Text / Mobile Marketing
 Appeals to Boomers

37. Phrasing
 Don’t have to say “senior” in marketing
 Age Neutral
 Graphics to show desired audience

38. Local Connections
Grandchildren don't make a man feel old;
it's the knowledge that he's married to a
grandmother.
G. Norman Collie

39. Collaboration
 Senior Community Fair
 Opportunity to spotlight services and
organizations
 Great beginning for Advisory Board

40. Cross Marketing
 Trade newsletter space with other
organizations
 Senior Centers
 Clubs
 Don’t forget Outreach!
 Leave the library and go talk to people

41. Agencies Providing
Services on Aging
None are so old as those who have
outlived enthusiasm.
Henry David Thoreau

42. Indiana Agencies
 Family and Social Services, Division on
Aging
 http://www.in.gov/fssa/2329.htm
 Includes listing of regional agencies
 Indiana Association of Homes and
Services for the Aging
 http://www.iahsa.com/
 Indiana Association of Area Agencies on
Aging
 http://www.iaaaa.org/

43. National Organizations
 American Association of Retired Persons
 www.aarp.org
 Federal Administration on Aging
 http://www.aoa.gov/
 EPA Age Initiative
 http://www.epa.gov/aging/

44. Resources
The years between fifty and seventy are the
hardest. You are always being asked to do more,
and you are not yet decrepit enough to turn them
down.
T.S. Eliot, quoted in Time, 23 October 1950

45. Senior Spaces
 Old Bridge Public Library, NJ
 http://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/diy/index.htm
 Tempe Public Library, AZ
 http://www.tempeconnections.org/
 Peabody Public Library, MA
 http://www.peabodylibrary.org/ptp/photos.html
 Mary L Cook Public Library, OH
 http://www.mlcook.lib.oh.us/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=8
2

46. Sources
 Kleiman, Allan. Serving Seniors With Panache, Lyrasis Workshop, October
26, 2009.
 http://www.infolink.org/seniorspaces/index.htm
 Kleiman, Allan. Senior Spaces: The Library Place for Baby Boomers, Older
Adults & Their Families. World Library And Information Congress: 74th
IFLA General Conference And Council, 10-14 August 2008. Québec, Canada
http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla74/index.htm
 Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality. June 29, 2009.
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1269/aging-survey-expectations-versus-reality
 LifeCourse Associates, http://www.lifecourse.com/mi/insight/insight-
overview.html
 Serving Seniors: A Resource Manual for Missouri Libraries.
http://www.sos.mo.gov/library/development/services/seniors/manual/
11/1/2009
 Wikipedia, Baby Boomers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer
 Librarian Live Podcast, http://librarianlive.libsyn.com/ (July 2009)
 http://www.myavatareditor.com/

47. Websites
 Transforming Life After 50
http://www.transforminglifeafter50.org/
Project through California State Library
 Intergenerational Center at Temple
University
http://www.templecil.org/

48. Thank You!
Shauna Borger
Indiana State Library
Professional Development Office
sborger@library.in.gov