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1/11/05 libraries are rich resources for older adults Marguerite Perfett
Wardrobe-bound? Wallet-bound? Home-bound? Bored-bound? These don’t need to be permanent conditions if your city or town has a public library. And most libraries have programs aimed at you, an older adult. At the library, you can: Conduct a genealogy search. If you think you might be related to the Smith who advertised that he wants to share a windfall with long-lost relatives, a genealogy search could be the way to go. Genealogy books and passenger and immigration lists can be consulted and surname dictionaries are available for perusing at the library. HeritageQuest Online is at your disposal and library staff can assist in locating other Web sites. Newspaper microfilm and previous censuses can be checked, and eligibility for patriotic organizations can be verified. It may be that one of your ancestors was one of those Englishmen who immigrated to western Kansas and organized fox hunts! Use the computers available on site. Marilyn Schmidt, in charge of programs for the elderly at the Newton, Kansas, library, tells of seniors who initially scoffed at and resisted family efforts to initiate them into the electronic age. “Once they are persuaded to take that first step, however,” Marilyn says, “most become loyal enthusiasts—with the use of e-mail being the ultimate prize.” The purchase of a personal computer for the home can be another result of library use. Use the library as a news center. More and more older men are visiting libraries, Schmidt says, and many drop by two or three times a day to read magazines or newspapers. Find literature bargains. Libraries inventory various collections throughout the year and then offer older books at bargain prices during annual sales or distribute them among other libraries. Many libraries also collect books donated by community residents and then hold an annual or semi-annual sale. Such sales are terrific opportunities to refresh your library at a very low cost. Get informed about other learning opportunities. Library brochure racks are great sources of information about continuing education classes, job opportunities, and support groups for older adults. And many libraries feature display cases that highlight the handiwork, hobbies, or collections of local organizations or individuals. At your public library, it’s likely that you also can attend programs and question sessions by special speakers funded through arts and humanities grants; make your reading easier by checking out large-print books; participate in community book discussion groups; and even borrow a video, a painting, or a cassette tape for free. You also can wait for the library to come to you. Mobile libraries partner with meals-on-wheels organizations, retirement homes, senior centers, and health organizations to target those who can best benefit. These traveling libraries regularly visit retirement communities and senior centers with a selection of books, some requested by patrons and others chosen by the library aide, in regular or large type. A separate library card usually is used for this service. To find out what’s available at your local library, ask to be put on its newsletter distribution list and visit to pick up brochures and other hand-outs. And for an adventure that won’t cost you a cent and doesn’t demand a fancy wardrobe, try volunteering at your local neighborhood library! Marguerite Perfett is a free-lance writer from Newton, Kansas. © University of Kansas Medical Center, Center on Aging, January, 2005.
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