ALA: Programming Not Just for Boomers

Programming Not Just for Boomers: Programming and Services

This program was a panel of three speakers, one of them being Marshall Shore from the Maricopa County Library District in Arizona. He spoke first and mentioned some of the programs the district is doing now:

Knit One, Read, Too! at SERL and the Crochet and Knitting Club at NWRL
Marshall is trying to get involved with national organizations such as Church of Craft and Craft Mafia to create and sponsor programs.

He then began talking about ideas and programs for the future. These included:

Film Movement
Independent and foreign films
Will be at 5 branches
Sponsored by Recorded Books
Library gets to show a film

ASU MFA Theater Play Writing
This is a program where patrons will read a short story and then develop it into a play. It sounded like it might be a contest and the winner gets to have help developing their story into a play and then actually getting to perform it.

University of Phoenix workshops on:
Going back to school (college)
Writing essays
How to apply for scholarships

Big Read
Book is To Kill a Mockingbird
Library will get to create a podcast and video for YouTube
There were a few other things he mentioned, but I couldn’t get them all written down. This group of speakers did not supply a handout.

Next he talked about the Perry Branch and its Deweyless system. The taxonomy is from the Book Industry Study Group.

The next speaker was Allan Kleiman from Old Bridge Public Library, NJ. He talked about programming for seniors. He is doing some amazing things at their library. He talked about how the typical 70 year old is much more active, mobile, and engaged than a 70 year old from 10 or 20 years ago. He said there are 35 million people age 65 and older in the U.S.

Some ideas for senior programming include:

Technology training
Basic computer training
Intro to the Internet
Safety & security on the Internet
Medicare Part D
How to buy tickets online (airfare, concerts)
Email children and grandchildren
Gaming- Wii for seniors (good for maintaining hand-eye coordination)
iPods, ebooks
blogs
film/book discussions
cultural programs
movement- basic exercise, dance
financial security, recently retired
2nd career- resumes for 70+
Consumer health
Local history
The Teaching Company courses
Coping with loss
Genealogy
Nostalgic programming on decades, events, persons, places
Creative writing, poetry- turn it into a blog. Can do an open house for the community to read seniors poetry and other writings. Can also link with a classroom of students at school to write on a theme together. Can listen/watch streaming video of a poet reading his/her work.

some ideas for how to teach seniors include:

peer to peer
intergenerational classes
boomers teaching parents
teach in a nursing home
social networking sites for seniors

All programs should:
Allow people to share, discuss, and reminisce
Have refreshments
Get people involved
Use their mental capabilities
Make program into an event

Here’s one example he gave about making a program into an event (this would be a cool idea for us to use!)

Show the recent award winning movie The Queen starring Helen Mirren
Display royal memorabilia (print, commemoratives)
Book display @ program of royal fiction, biographies, nonfiction
Have English music playing
Show movie (introduce and ask questions at the beginning & end)
Red carpet leading into room
Serve theme refreshments- tea and scones, etc.

Check out this library’s senior blog at seniorspaces.blogspot.com