Library Outreach Resources to Underserved Populations

May Is Older Americans Month:
How will your library celebrate?

Libraries all over the country will be celebrating these special citizens with events and unique celebrations. Following are details on just some of the events planned for May 2007. Share your plans with OLOS at olos@ala.org.

Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library

• Senior Spaces: Grand opening of a unique blog for programs & services for older adults
• Plus regular library activities for adults.

Lexington (KY) Public Library

Several events, all planned through a Senior Advisory Board:

• Derby Day for Seniors, with trivia challenges
• Name That Tune-type game show
• Derby hat-making & lunch
• Programs on depression & mood disorders in partnership with a local chapter of the Depression & Bipolar Alliance.
• Movie programs on popular musicals at senior residential facilities

Coshocton (OH) Public Library

• Fines are forgiven for 55+ patrons
• Computer classes for seniors
• Special book display & weekly prizes
• Senior Coffee Club: topic is Neurobics, which involves games to prevent memory loss & increase mental fitness

Las Vegas-Clark County (NV) Library District

SeniorFest, which includes:

• a social
• health information
• entertainment, including cast from the musical “Menopause” anda barbershop quartet.
• branch programs, which include:
  • Senior Citizens Law Project on identity theft (including 3 bilingual sessions)
  • Turning Family Stories into Memoirs
  • 30s & 40s film festival
  • Vegas history programs
  • How to Buy a Computer classes.

Alameda County (CA) Library

Special programs on:

• Diet Recommendations
• Food Supplements
• Special foods with Medications
• Recommended Physical Activities

Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library

They have a terrific web site called SeniorsConnect, which is dedicated to older adults. Library programs include:

• Social Engagement: Serving Older Adults
• Remember When? A Glimpse Into Cleveland's Past

Corning (Iowa) Public Library

The library's plans include:

• having a contest on how many books each older American patron thinks they have read since they got their new computer system; 
• giving a prize to the oldest person that uses their library;
• providing mini computer lessons one week;
• having an older Iowan author come speak; and
• having a coffee for older Americans.

Minneapolis (MN) Public Library

The month of May features Older Americans Month as a hot topic on their web site at: www.mplib.org/hottopics4.asp

To help with Older Americans Month (OAM) activities, see the logo and other downloadable items available through the Administration on Aging (AOA) homepage, or go directly to AOA's Older Americans Month page.

2006 Events

Here's what some libraries did last year:

Siouxland Libraries: Sioux Falls, SD

Library volunteers sent May baskets to the homebound with their deliveries. There was a display with pictures of older Americans who help at the library.

Vancouver Mall Community Library: Vancouver, WA

We had a packed agenda for May.

• May 2 - Noritake Unleased with David Spain (renowned expert on Noritake)
• May 5 - Active and Fit in Clark County with Grace Farmer from Parks & Rec
• May 13 - Antiques Galore with Mary Storm
• May 21 - Scrapbooking Your Memories with Tia-Mau-Rhay Olson
• May 29 - Preserving Stories for Future Generations with Bill Duchie, Clark County Genealogical Society

Winter Park (FL) Public Library

We honored seniors the week of May 19-23 with a variety of activities. Here's a list:

1. 2-day Health Fair Screenings in collaboration with Senior Resource Alliance (Agency on Aging)
• Blood pressure and Diabetes screenings
• Memory and "fall-risk" assessments
• Dental screening and referral
• Benefits Checkup - finds out what services and benefits they may be eligible for
• Dartmouth Assessment - personalized evaluation of overall health and well-being
• Pharmacy readings and assessments of prescriptions
2. Hip Hop/Swing Music and Dialogue session with teens and seniors
3. Senior Appreciation Night (party for seniors after Library closes)
4. Gifts for Seniors (children's department gifts to residential home seniors)
5. Mystery Book club reading senior-focused mysteries
6. Displays recognizing contributions of Older Americans in lobby