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.

  • Share/Bookmark

What I read on the plane going to conference…

Posted on 23. Sep, 2009 by pattynbc@sonic.net in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Patty Hector

Brag!  The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It.  By Peggy Klaus

All too often librarians are not good at tooting our own horn.  So after I saw this book mentioned by a librarian online, I decided to take it with me to read on the plane going to Gatlinburg.  Although the book is geared toward career building, I think much of it applies to promoting our libraries.

Bragging and self-promotion don’t have to be obnoxious.  You can tell your story in a way that authentically showcases your strengths and honors who you are.  Klaus outlines key communication techniques that make for more dynamic bragging in any situation and every audience.  She teaches you to take the emotional temperature of the listener, be authentic at all times and act like your best self even on rainy days.

I think Klaus is correct when she states, “…most of us remain curiously unable to articulate our stories and the diversity and extent of our skills, abilities, and attributes.  We are equally unaware of how others perceive us and what exactly they like about us.  We take ourselves for granted, thinking that we haven’t really accomplished anything, that we’re ‘just doing our jobs,’ that the recognition we seek will naturally follow our hard work.”

Even when we know we need to be marketing our libraries to the city council or county agencies or whoever, we don’t always know where to start.  It’s all preparation, preparation, preparation.  Klaus has a questionnaire (available online at http://www.klausact.com/brag/questionnaire.htm) to help you prepare an inventory of what you (or your) library have done.  She also emphasizes using that information to tell the human-interest side of your story, to get personal, to use layman’s terms and to be enthusiastic and funny.

Want your story to go from boring to extraordinary?  Check out Brag.

  • Share/Bookmark

Overheard from CA librarians at the conference…

Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by pattynbc@sonic.net in All Current Posts, Latest Posts: Patty Hector

I now have a whole list of ideas for how to help job seekers in the library (Helping Your Community Get Back to Work session)- the Job Search Toolkit wiki, utilizing the expertise of HR persons from local businesses to help patrons review and revise their resumes/applications/interview skills; show them how to access skills assesments and tutorials to learn new skills. — Jody Meza, Orland Free Library, CA

I attended a great program this morning called Getting IT online, and finally got the lightbulb above my head regarding Twitter.  The presenters explained how you can put an RSS feed link on your library’s website so that all your Twitter posts will appear there!  This would be great for our library, since I would then be able to post directly to the website without asking for help from the IT guy!  –Margaret Miles, Plumas County Library, CA

I was here for the preconference on “Dewey or Do We Not” at the new Gatlinburg Public Library. This program really spoke to me about ways to update and merchandize our collections and library spaces to our customers. I took about 80 pictures of their library illustrating the ‘book store model’ modified dewey approach that they took for their library collection. It was an invaluable workshop for me. — Wendy Burke, Colusa County Library, CA

Here are three quotes and one statistic that resonated with me:

  • “How you think about the customer is how you will treat them.” If you have a colleague who thinks that a library would be a great place to work, if the annoying patrons would only stop bothering them, that attitude will inevitably percolate through to the service that is provided.
  • “Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” (Samuel Ullman) Times are tight and we are all being pulled and strained in all directions. We need to guard against losing sight of why we love libraries.
  • “Today’s service is tomorrow’s reputation.” I lived in China for a year twenty years ago, in a city that had millions of inhabitants but only 40 foreign residents. I was always aware that I was the first foreigner that many of the people I encountered had ever met, or might ever meet. If I was having a bad day or bad moment and someone had a negative interaction with me, that could color their impression of all Americans, so I made an extra effort to always be gracious, patient, and diplomatic. The stakes are similar when you work in a service profession, and it’s important to remember that.  — Laura Pappani, Nevada County Libraries, CA
If you are interested in trying gaming at your library, and you do
not have a lot of money to purchase electronic games such as an
X-Box or a Wii, there are free online games that you can direct
your patrons to such as www.bellasara.com<http://www.bellasara.com>
and www.blokus.com<http://www.blokus.com> .  Patrons can also design
their own games at www.scratch.mit.edu<http://www.scratch.mit.edu>. 
--Victoria Mrozek, Merced County Library, CA

I primarily chose to take breakout sessions that covered the topic of
building community and partnerships. Two workshops on the first
day, one after the other "Community Leadership - it's not a spectator
sport" with presenter Jim Connor opened up may possibilities for
developing new relationships in our communities that could provide
support for our library. This support might be in the form of volunteers
as well as dollars. His training material should be on the ARSL web
site and is worth reading through most especially if your funding
sources seem to be dwindling, but also to open your eyes to some
new possibilities for relationships that can provide new funding for
your library.
–Kristen Freeman, Humboldt County Library, Kim Yerton
Memorial/Hoopa Branch
I primarily chose to take breakout sessions that covered the topic of building community and partnerships. Two workshops on the first day, one after the other “Community Leadership – it’s not a spectator sport” with presenter Jim Connor opened up may possibilities for developing new relationships in our communities that could provide support for our library. This support might be
in the form of volunteers as well as dollars. His training material should be on the ARSL web site and is worth reading through most especially if your funding sources seem to be dwindling, but also to open your eyes to some new possibilities for relationships that can provide new funding for your library. –Kristen Freeman, Humboldt County Library, Kim Yerton Memorial/Hoopa Branch
  • Share/Bookmark