Libraries for the Future

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Libraries for the Future

• Lifelong Access Libraries
• A Framework for The Experience Library
• Northern Massachusetts Regional Library System
• May 19, 2004

Contact Diantha D. Schull, President 27 Union
Square West, Suite 204 New York, New York
10023 656 336 6236
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Libraries for the Future

• National nonprofit with programs and services
  across the US
• Mission to advocate for libraries as local and
  national assets and
• to strengthen libraries as centers for
  information education

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LFF Core Principles

• Libraries are essential local and national assets
  
• for democratic society
• for equity, economic security and educational
  opportunity
• for civic participation
• Libraries today are more important than ever
• Community involvement is key to realizing the
  potential of libraries

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LFF Programs Services

• EqualAccess Libraries
• Family Place Libraries
• Metlife Reading America Program
• Consulting and Training Services for libraries,
  foundations library support groups

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LIFELONG ACCESS LIBRARIES

• A national initiative to support development
• of libraries as centers for productive aging,
• lifelong learning and civic engagement

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LIFELONG ACCESS

• Context
• Concepts
• Current Conditions
• Principles
• Components
• Strategies - Three Ps

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Lifelong Access Context

• Rapid growth in the number and percent of older
  adults who are healthy, active and eager to be
  meaningfully engaged
• Every 8 seconds another baby boomer turns 50
• In 2000 older adults made up 14 of the Mass.
  Population by 2025 they will be 21
• Three-quarters of older adults remain active and
  independent well into their 80s

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What do we know about Baby Boomers?

• Healthy, active and mobile
• More and more are aging in place
• Seek meaningful engagement in their
• communities, either paid or unpaid
• Expect to design and manage activities for
• themselves and others

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The New Retirement

• Retirement is a new chapter
• Nearly 65 of 50-75 year-olds, including
• 70 of older Americans who are not yet retired,
  view retirement as a time to begin
• new activities, to become involved and to set
  new goals
• (Peter D. Hart Research Associates)

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Redefining Retirement and Work

• Active engaged older adults seek
• welcoming places
• meaningful activities
• opportunities to learn
• social and civic connections
• Active engaged older adults seek information and
  pathways for options in retirement

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Redefining Work

• As retirement is redefined, so is work being
  redefined
• There will be less distinction between
• paid and unpaid work and work and community
  service
• Second and third careers are more and more common
  

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The Aging Opportunity

• Aging adults constitute our largest growing
• natural resource (Marc Freedman)
• Business is increasingly turning to older workers
  
• who have experience, skills and motivation
• Aging presents a huge oppportunity for public and
  non-profit sector organizations, including
  libraries

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Implications for Libraries

• Libraries have the potential to become
• cornerstone institutions for Baby Boomers
• and productive aging
• Boomers can be a resource for libraries and
  librarians
• Boomers have the potential to re-invigorate local
  library support

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WHY LIBRARIES?

• Already support engagement and learning
• Social and civic space
• Book Clubs/Public Affairs programs
• Information and navigation assistance
• Health and wellness programs
• Computers and Computer Training
• Opportunities for service

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WHY LIBRARIES?

• PLACE The communitys information and meeting
  place
• TRUST Most trusted public institution
• ACCESS Accessible and available
• (16,500 public library outlets)
• INCLUSIVE - no barriers due to age, language,
  belief, economic status

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ARE WE READY?

• Do we understand the differences between active
  engaged older
• adults and frail elderly?
• Do we have spaces that welcome those planning or
  in retirement?
• What is our process for involving Boomers in
  planning, developing and managing new services?
• Do we know what other services and programs exist
  in support of
• productive aging?
• Have we included services for Boomers in our
  strategic plans?
• Budgets? Staffing? Collections development?
  

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Current State

• Paradigm is senior services
• Assumptions regarding older adults they are all
  seniors
• infirm
• isolated
• dependent
• Baby Boomers are not a priority

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How do we use older volunteers?

• Shelving books
• Cataloging assistance.
• Information desk.
• OR
• Planning programs
• Teaching Classes
• Conducting outreach

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A Time Bomb for Libraries

• 22 library patrons nationally are 55
• 43 current library patrons are 34-55
• By 2014 these baby boomers will be
• between 50 and 70, using the library more than
  ever

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What is Lifelong Access?

• A new distinct specialty within adult
• services that reflects demographic change

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What is Lifelong Access?

• A framework for library services to promote
  productive aging
• Focused on adults ages 50-75 those who are
  active and eager to be engaged

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Lifelong Access Guiding Principles

• An understanding of the changing nature of aging
  and attitudes towards retirement.
• Sees older adults as institutional and community
  assets
• Integrates new communications and information
  technologies to promote productive aging
• 4. Committed to programs and services that are
  accessible, culturally sensitive and connected to
  the larger community.

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Lifelong Access Core Components

• Community Conversations or Forums
• Advisory Council
• Workshops or Clubs
• An open and welcoming space
• Public Access Computers and training

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Lifelong Access Core Components

• Lifelong learning programs
• A gateway to and venue for civic engagement
• A visible, up-to-date collection of multi-media
  learning resources to support productive aging --
  including such core topics as work, health,
  education and financial planning.

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Other potential components

• Health information and health programming
• Life Planning
• Financial planning
• Intergenerational Activities

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KEY APPROACHES

• Assess Needs and Assets
• Community and Library
• Listen and Learn
• Stakeholders are the experts
• Collaborate
• The library cannot do it alone
• Involve Boomers
• In planning and service delivery

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Where is Lifelong Access Happening?

• Arizona
• Pennsylvania
• Connecticut
• Massachusetts

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Arizona Lifelong Access

• Maricopa County
• Commission on Productive Aging
• Training institute
• 6 model centers under development
• Demonstration projects Glendale Maricopa Co.
• Statewide LFF Lifelong Access training

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Tempe Life Options Connections Café

• Vision a new center that will transform the
• library into a locus of connections, activities,
• information resources for older adults,
  promoting learning and helping boomers find
  meaningful ways to improve their communities
• Partners 11 local agencies educational
  institutions
• Lead Tempe Public Library

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Pennsylvania Lifelong Access

• Statewide LFF Lifelong Access Training
• Emerging Models
• Alleghany County (PA) Library System
• Special Programs Coordinator Older Adults
  Programs
• Partnership with University of Pittsburgh Third
  Age University to offer courses in branches
• Partnership with Elderhostel for peer learning
  programs
• Bethel Park Library, PA
• Older Adult Advisory Council Community
  Conversations
• Free Library of Philadelphia
• Developing Lifelong Access Center as part of
  new main library/
• Partnership with Temple University, WHYY and
  United Way

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Lifelong Access Connecticut

• LFF/State Library of CT Initiative
• Statewide Coming of Age Forum
• Demonstration Projects
• Hartford Public Library
• New Haven Free Public Library
• Lifelong Access Institute for Librarians

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New Haven Free Public Library

• Pilot Project
• Partnership with Volunteer Center
• Partnership with Yale U. to create new book club
  for kids
• Community Conversation
• Emerging Model Transition Center
• LSTA funded
• Will provide information services, community
  service referrals, programs for mid-life
  transitions

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Lifelong Access Massachusetts

• Newton, MA
• Discovering Whats Next Revitalizing
• Retirement Program Series
• Northeast Mass. Regional Library System
• Lifelong Access Institute/ The Experience
• Library for Older Citizens Project

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LIFELONG ACCESS Opportunity for NMRLS Libraries

• Lead change in Mass. libraries
• Build new constituencies and advocates
• Develop new professional capacities
• Develop new community partners
• Become part of a learning network

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The Three Ps

• Partnerships
• Programs
• Publicity