Serving our Senior Citizens

In our rural libraries we have active children’s programming and services from summer reading to kids’ clubs to preschool storytimes. We hire children’s librarians and reading specialists. But, what are we doing for the other most active population segment in our rural libraries: the senior citizens? These are the patrons that are retired or near retirement, are moving into the rural areas and want to be involved. They are the generation that may not have grown up with computers and are often intimidated by our online catalog. They may need assistance with tax forms and medical information and have special visual and physical requirements. These are the vital citizens that have skills and talents to give back to their communities and the time to do it. What can we do to meet their unique needs and incorporate them into the lifeblood of our libraries? What are some of the ways we can better serve our seniors?

This blog is for sharing ideas and issues we face when providing services through our libraries for our senior citizens. Let's discuss the problems and the solutions we have found and learn from each other!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

30 Things We Know For Sure About Adult Learners

30 Things We Know For Sure About Adult Learners

When Ron and Susan Zemke first presented the 30 Things We Know For Sure About Adult Learners in Innovations Abstracts in 1984, their work became the de facto standard for defining what we know about adult learners and their motivation and designing curriculum or classes to meet their needs. The applications for library services whether book clubs, information resources, computer and Internet instruction or databases can help determine success for the programs and for defining the needs of these users. Adult learners, according to the Zemkes, want to learn with their peers, be able to be self-directed and desire problem oriented solutions. They want to learn because they need information and they want to be able to apply it. They want self-directed studies with guides to facilitate their learning.
They don’t like to take risks, be embarrassed or feel intimidated by information with which they are not familiar, but are willing to take the time to learn skills and techniques.

This means, when we design library programs for adult or lifelong learners, we need to keep these preferences in mind and make them programs that fit this particular audience rather than programs we like or can manage. I would desperately like to begin computer use training for seniors in my library, but it would be better to have the whole plan set before starting something that cannot be done well. It means being sure that instructors are on the same page and can use the 30 things to inform their teaching.
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2 comments:

  1. readbooksNovember 30, 2009 at 1:54 PM

    Many of the characteristics seemed common to all ages. Many times a adult child has set up email or some account without fully explaining how it works. I had older people come in for specific one on one instruction. So many are awed and afraid. They have taught themselves it is hard, and need to unlearn that. I would say," If it was hard, would everyone be doing it?"

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  2. Brian D. LeeDecember 7, 2009 at 1:32 PM

    Our library, the S.E. Steuben County Library, has senior computer classes that are always full of enthusiastic seniors who are ready to try new technology. I would suggest you start the program and make changes on the fly.

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