Serving Older Adults Part 2
Posted on 20. Oct, 2009 by pattynbc@sonic.net in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Patty Hector
This is the second blog on the ALA RUSA Pre-Conference: A Dialogue with the Aging Network and the Library Community, July 2009
Barbara Mates, author of 5-Star programming and Services for Your 55+ Library Customers and Adaptive Technology for the Internet, had a lot to say about providing services to older adults. The most effective changes you can make to your library to improve services are:
- make sure you have good lighting in your building (eliminate glare at service desks and make sure light in stacks is adequate);
- have wheels available (wheelchair, walker with a basket, or electric cart);
- keep the aisles clear;
- provide multiple formats of materials;
- make sure computers are accessible (use a large font on the screen and oversized keyboards and trackballs); and
- provide reachers, magnifiers, a listening device and CCTV.
arbara brought one of the new digital players from the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The new players take a new digital cassette and will also be able to use downloaded books from NLS. If you’re not familiar with the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped’s programs, check them out here: http://www.loc.gov/nls/
She also talked about a universally accessible audio player, the Victor Reader Stream DAISY. It plays the NLS downloadable books and can also be used with Overdrive downloadable books. When you think of how small the controls of ipods and mp3 players are, you really appreciate the DAISY controls.
Lastly, Barbara suggested making sure library staff are trained to serve older adults. Programming should be appropriate for this age group. It should be stimulating and encourage interaction. She suggests book talks, book discussion groups, and programs on the following topics: gaming, reminiscing, health care, investing and financial planning, sports, fashion, cooking, music appreciation, movies, wills and trusts, life planning and computer skills.
She mentioned one library that was partnering with a group in England on an online book discussion (I think they used OPAL). They also emailed each other.
For more ideas, check out her book. Next time, I’ll talk about the SCEP program.
Robert Frost & Rural American Libraries
Posted on 16. Oct, 2009 by pimelibrarian@gmail.com in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Sonja Plummer-Morgan
Today someone came to my library. Many someones, point of fact. That in itself is reason to celebrate. Just one is reason to celebrate, really. We are nestled in Northern Maine and, despite our rurality and sparsely populated county, we are a busy library. It is cold today and people were lined up early at the door waiting for us to appear with the library key. One of those someones brought me several poems by Robert Frost. She had a question and I an answer, it often works just like that. Only this time, she had a question, I had an answer, then I was stopped in my tracks. It seldom works like that. That’s even more reason to celebrate. One of the poems, “An Unstamped Letter In Our Rural Letter Box” caught my eye.
I’ve been thinking about people who are homeless as the days grow colder and shorter. Those that spend their days in the warmth of our rural library buildings. Every day, from now until the sun warms us again, someone who is homeless will be at our libraries during the day somewhere in America, many somewheres in America. The challenges and considerations that that brings us as librarians or as patrons could be discussed all day but at its core is the reality that they are homeless and you are helping them be warm instead of cold. Setting aside all the details and philosophical debate, the homeless are cold and we are librarians and we are humane. Homelessness comes to mind partly from my own experiences, partially from the terrific program on Social Services Triaging offered at the last ARSL Conference, and from friends who know more about it than I probably ever will.
With early frosts, heaps of snow by January that stays until June, and very short summers, people love their library here and inclement weather must be very, very inclement indeed to prevent our patrons from visiting. The leaves at this point are past peak and dropping, swirling in a colorful blur. Dramatic foliage scenes for which I’m grateful as I look out the window of my library office. But more to the point (and there is a point) someone, many someones, came to our library today and one of those someones brought me a poem.
In your neck of the woods, the leaves may swirl this time of year as well and I hope that your library is teeming with rural community members and patrons. Most of us rejoice in this, probably all of us. But today’s visitor strikes me as unusual. I love reference questions. I do. Each and everyone a treasure hunt in its own right. Once in a glorious moon, once in a passing moment, there is that question that stops me. Stops my busy self to notice what is around me. To care about something different than the next task, the next goal, the next success, the next change, the next…whatever.
Much like your rural and small library there are the regular job seekers, passport applicants, gamers, internet surfers, instant chatters, newspaper readers, the people picking up books they reserved, people browsing the shelves, or people checking out audiobooks for their trip south. There are phone calls, emails, bloggers, instant messages, passerbys, toddlers playing peek-a-boo, screaming infants, genealogists, and people who are homeless and this is what I and many of our colleagues would consider “usual.”
So I share with you a part of this poem and urge you seek it in its entirety as you go about the usual business of rural and small librarianship and open doors early on a cold morning, refuse to shake a boot of a sleeping homeless person, and think of the cold that may populate your library.
An Unstamped Letter In Our Rural Letter Box
“Last night your watchdog barked all night,
So once you rose and list the light.
It wasn’t someone at your locks.
No, in your rural letter box
I leave you this note without a stamp
To tell you it was just a tramp
Who used your pasture for a camp.
There, pointed like the pip of spades,
The young spruce made a suite of glades
So regular that in the dark
The place was like a city park.
There I elected to demur
Beneath a low-slung juniper
That like a blanket to my chin
Kept some dew out and some heat in….”
~Robert Frost
Terrific Conference
Posted on 14. Oct, 2009 by Paula DeMars in All Current Posts, Scholarships
I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend the annual meeting of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries this year on the Founder’s Scholarship. What a terrific opportunity this was to meet librarians from all over the country who are in situations and with challenges similar to those we face in rural South Dakota. The workshops were very helpful in addressing issues that were applicable to small town libraries.
One of the best programs was the pre-conference workshop at Anna Porter Public Library in Gatlinburg. It was most interesting to see and hear their step by step processes of fundraising, construction, and collection developments made over the last 5 years. Building on their progressive themes I attended as many of the community development, fundraising, partnerships and advocacy, and foundation development workshops as were available. Each workshop had something valuable that I could bring back with me and apply to my library.
I made some new acquaintances and a couple good friends and the food was terrific! Thanks go out to all who worked so hard to put together such a fantastic conference. I plan to attend next year in Denver, no doubt!
Paula DeMars
Library Director
Hill City Community Library
Hill City, South Dakota.
Fare Thee Well, Ken Davenport
Posted on 13. Oct, 2009 by pimelibrarian@gmail.com in Archived Posts: Sonja Plummer-Morgan, Latest Posts: Sonja Plummer-Morgan
Many of people read the post on our ARSL listserv of Ken Davenport’s obituary. I’m reposting it here, for those who may not have seen it with some additional information about Ken from my experiences with him in Second Life. Ken Davenport helped found the Association for Rural & Small Libraries so his impact on rural and small librarianship we feel is profound. Originally posted by Eunice Riesberg:
*Obituary: Kenneth (Ken) Marvin **Davenport WATERLOO — Kenneth (Ken) Marvin Davenport, 66, of Waterloo, died at the University of Iowa Hospitals on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 after a long illness. His body was cremated
by the Cremation Society of Eastern, Central and Western Iowa. Kenneth Marvin Davenport was born February 18, 1943 in Harbor Beach, MI to Angus Marvin and Clarice Elaine (Dollman) Davenport. Ken graduated from high school in Tawas, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University where he earned a B. A. in Geography as well as a Master’s degree in Geography. He attended the University of Minnesota where he did postgraduate work in Library Science. He then attended Kent State University where he earned a Master of Library Science degree. Ken married Diane Carter in 1966; they were later divorced. He later met Patricia Dunfee; they married in 1996, but were together for many years before that. Ken worked as a library consultant for the Northeast Iowa Library Service Area from 1990 until his recent passing; he worked with approximately 85 libraries, many of them smaller libraries located in small towns of Northeast Iowa. Ken became an expert on library governance as well as E-Rate, a federal program that helps schools and libraries get internet access. He was a tireless advocate for libraries in Iowa, and was a regular participant at local Legislative Forums, where his beard, suspenders, and dry sense of humor were all appreciated. He was a great story teller, and even when he became very ill, posted notes on his Facebook page about his most recent exciting ride by helicopter to Iowa City. He was a long time member of the Iowa Library Association; he served on the Executive Board in the 1990s and was the long time Chair of the Credentials Committee for the
annual conference. Ken was also a member of the Cedar Falls Supper Club. His interests included reading, geography, Renaissance festivals, Celtic culture, fine food, and spending time on his computer, corresponding with friends, blogging, and getting into Web 2.0. Ken was on Facebook and Twitter, and used them not only to socialize but further his causes/passions. *Survived by:* his mother, Clarice Davenport of Lansing, MI; brothers: Grant of Salsa, Alaska, Bruce (Rose Mary) of Lansing, MI; and sister, Patricia (Jack) Kirk of Preston, Maryland. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Ann (Frank) Carraro of Ottawa, Illinois; 16 nieces and nephews; and by many dear friends from the Iowa Library system. *Preceded** in death by:* his wife, Patricia (Pat) Ann (Dunfee) Davenport on January 20, 2008 and his father, Marvin Davenport on May 24, 1983. Ken’s body was cremated, but his spirit lives on. A celebration of his life is planned for Friday, October 16 at the Waverly Public Library. Friends wanting to contribute to a memorial fund are asked to do so in Ken’s name at small public libraries in their area. Sympathy cards to Ken Davenport’s family may be sent to his office, and will be shared with his family.
In the words of Bernard Vavrek, another founder for ARSL, “Ken helped to define and nurture the rural library movement. As the first president of ARSL, his historical impact is assured. But he assumed other significant roles that went beyond his home state. Ken’s wit and insight could always be counted on despite his personal medical issues. His physical presence will be missed. But don’t be surprised if you see his spirit attending the next library meeting.”
That sums is up so perfectly, it’s hard to improve upon it for sure. There were many who wrote to share their experiences and express regret. Take time to do a search of the ARSL listserv archives to see the wonderful contributions that Ken offered throughout the years.
The photo that you see is of Ken’s memorial created in Second Life by Steve Eyler, our webmaster and Second Life consultant/volunteer and me. It features memorial candles, flowers, and a picture outside of the ARSL Second Life building. In SL, he was Brother Homewood and he often attended events, sent words of encouragement and helped programming, and was a big supporter of virtual worlds. He is missed by persons who participate in Second Life as well.
We Win
Posted on 13. Oct, 2009 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Andrea Berstler
Like many of you, I am enjoying the fall spectacle that is playoff baseball. As a Phillies fan, I truly enjoyed the game the other evening as the teams battled through all 9 innings. Neither one gave up, neither one rolled over or surrendered, they continued until the last out was made. It was exciting. It nearly gave me a nervous breakdown, but it was exciting. (my sympathies to any Rockie fans out there)
Many of us in “library land” are in the midst of a struggle, a playoff of our own, so to speak. We battle against those who cut our funding, who seek to marginalize us, who do not understand or desire intellectual freedom or who think that perhaps we should just go the way of the dinosaur. But I encourage you to consider that even if you feel as if you are in the bottom of the ninth with 2 out, you are still in the game. Good teams do not resign themselves to losing games, they continue to play because you just never know what could happen.
Also, good teams work together. They encourage each other, they cover the errors of other players, they give 100%. Many of you are doing this – and we applaud you! But there is one more thing – good teams are a team. No one player gets a team to the playoffs or wins a World Series. It is a team – not just the men on the field, not only those in the dugout. That’s why teams give their staff WS rings – we don’t see them, we don’t applaud them, but they contribute. You are not in this difficult time alone. There are other’s battling alongside you.
So I say all this to get to this point. Although you may feel like it is the 9th inning and you are about to lose – the game “ain’t over ’til it’s over.” We will continue to play and here’s the catch, as long as we do, we win.
Andrea
Embracing Change
Posted on 01. Oct, 2009 by Andrea Berstler in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Andrea Berstler
When it comes to change librarians, like most people, usually subscribe to 1 of 2 schools of thought. Change is to be avoided, delayed or downright stymied at all costs or change is to be sought out, welcomed and embraced. Personally I like change; it can give us a fresh perspective, allows us to see things in a new light and can often bring the most wonderful people into our path.
But not all change is good or welcomed or embraced. Such is the change wrought in our organization with the passing of our friend Ken Davenport. While I never got to work with Ken in person, I did speak with him over the phone, chatted with him online, exchanged notes on Facebook and have read through the minutes of meeting that described his contributions to our association. Ken did not seek praise or even acknowledgement for his contributions, he simply wanted to make a difference in the lives of those who served in small and rural libraries, so they could in turn make a difference in the lives of those in their communities.
We honor Ken’s work when we take up that mantle, when we become the ones who strive to make a difference. A difference in the lives of our co-workers, friends, family and in our communities. It’s a big task, a nobel calling; and it will make a change in the lives of those around us. A good change, one we can embrace and welcome, and pass along.
Andrea