Allan Kleiman presented the wonderful workshop, Serving Older Adults With Panache, on February 6, 2012 at SALS. Since attending the workshop, several libraries have taken action to improve their services to seniors using the ideas and models presented at the workshop.
Here are some of their stories:
Lou Ann Stewart of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library reported on the new services the library has added stating: “We have made a few changes after attending the workshop. First, we created a “senior space” both in a physical sense and online on our website. We have a kiosk that contains new large print books (it was in existence before we attended the workshop). We added community information of interest to seniors. Next to the kiosk, we have a spinning rack with free brochures from Saratoga County organizations. We held a Senior Expo last fall and created a binder with information gathered from all the participating organizations. That binder is also located on the kiosk. Then, we created an “Outreach & Senior Services” page on our website: http://www.cphlibrary.org/services/outreach-senior.shtml with lots of helpful information for seniors.”
Sara Kipp Director of the Stillwater Free Library wrote: “We are currently working on active plan for more focused programming. Space will have to wait for an addition. The program was great and really brought to light a hole in services I hadn’t recognized. I am contacting our local bank for retirement planning and stretching of funds. Also, MVP programs and other easy ones like board games and matinee lunches.”
Dan Hubbs, librarian at the Saratoga Springs Public Library shared this: “The Senior Services Workshop was filled with useful and timely information. In fact, I have an appointment today at a local senior housing facility (Embury Aparments) that was scheduled in response to ideas presented by Mr. Kleiman. I’ll be discussing library services and asking the residents about programs they’d most like to see at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Mr. Kleiman’s workshop was an excellent reminder that our demographics are changing, our population is aging. We’ll be focusing more resources on services and materials for seniors from now on.”