Older Adults and the Public Library: The Impact of the Boomer Generation

Abstract

This article reports an investigation of older-adult services at fifty public libraries to determine if public libraries are providing services to the growing older-adult population and if any are guided by the American Library Association Guidelines for Older Adults 2008 and Institute of Museum and Library Services 2008 strategies for lifelong learning. The results indicate that few programs target older adults, although 74 percent offered lifelong learning opportunities. Thirty-two percent offered basic computer programs and less than 50 percent of the libraries provided assistive technologies. Future research should determine if other libraries provide for this diversified age group.

Keywords:

• American Library Association
• boomer generation
• Institute of Museum and Library Services
• older-adult services and programming
• survey of boomer services

Acknowledgments

© Renee Bennett-Kapusniak