Designing adult services : strategies for better serving your community

Title:

Author:

Roberts, Ann, 1958- author

ISBN:

9781440852541

Publication:

Santa Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, [2018]

Physical Description:

xiii, 177 pages ; 24cm

Contents:

Planning for library services to adults -- Know thy library and thy community -- Evaluating programs and services -- Staff competencies in library services to adults -- Professional development -- Waiting in the wings age group: 19-24 -- "Adultolescents" -- Attitudes toward libraries -- College/career prep -- Just for fun programs -- Taking center stage age group: 25-30 -- Library usage for this age group -- Finding a place in life -- Caregiving -- Makers and hackers -- Home, career, and coupling -- Settling down age group: 30-40 -- Library services to the newly settled -- Family, career, family -- Library services for children -- Family literacy -- Midlife crisis-or not! age group: 40-55 -- Work, work, work -- Stuck in the "sandwich" -- Libraries caring for the caregivers -- Empty nesters -- Career changers -- An end in sight age-or not! group: 55-65 -- Planning for the second phase of life -- Financial planning for retirement -- Grandparenting -- "Now or never" programming -- Now I can finally relax-or not! age group 65-75 -- Active seniors -- Senior programs in libraries -- Lifelong learning -- Volunteering -- Giving something back age group: 75 and beyond -- Library services to older adults -- In-home library services -- Books by mail -- Assistive technology -- Reflection and journaling -- Highlighting local history -- Library services to special populations -- Changes in demographics -- Immigrant populations -- Serving the incarcerated -- Mental health issues in libraries -- Inclusive programs and services -- Conclusion -- Library services throughout the lifespan -- Serving the entire community.

Subject Term:

Adult services in public libraries -- United States.

Libraries and older people -- United States.

Adult services librarians -- United States.

Libraries and community -- United States.

Adult services in public libraries. (OCoLC)fst00797371

Adult services librarians. (OCoLC)fst00797372

Libraries and community. (OCoLC)fst00997508

Libraries and older people. (OCoLC)fst01199291

Geographic Term:

United States.

Local Subject:

LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE COLLECTION

Other Format:

Online version: Roberts, Ann, 1958- author. Designing adult services Santa Barbara, California : Libraries Unlimited, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, [2018] 9781440852558 (DLC) 2017049116

Available:

Library	Call Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... State Library of Oregon	027.62 Rober	4-Week Loan	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Focusing on adult patrons ages 19 through senior citizens, this book explains how libraries can best serve this portion of their community's population at different life stages and foster experiences that are "worth the trip"--whether actual or virtual.

Adult library patrons are busier than ever before--working, taking classes and studying for advanced degrees, caring for children, helping their aging parents, taking care of their homes or rental properties, planning and nurturing careers, managing investments and retirement funds, and inevitably retiring. Each of these endeavors can require highly specific learning and education. Throughout their lives, adults continue to have different information needs that the library and its services can fill. Designing Adult Services: Strategies for Better Serving Your Community discusses the many ways libraries can serve adults of various ages and at different life stages, covering online services, collection development, programming, and lifelong learning.

This guide's unique approach simplifies the processes of designing and carrying out a successful adult services program for adult library users in all the various stages of life. The book is organized by age groups, with the respective information needs and life challenges. Each chapter suggests programs, services, and collection development strategies for the life stages. Public library administrators and managers as well as adult services librarians in public libraries will find this guide a must-read.

Author Notes

Ann Roberts is a reference librarian at the United State Patent and Trademark Office, Public Search Facility. She has worked in public, academic, and government libraries, as well as with historical collections.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Just as childhood is comprised of developmental stages, adulthood has its own phases. Those in their early 20s who are considering college or searching for entry-level jobs benefit from test-prep services and job training referrals. Middle-aged adults may be facing retirement planning and dealing with aging parents. Roberts, author of numerous "Crash Course" library guides, outlines the basics of serving adults at each stage. Her insightful discussion of community analysis helps readers gather data to understand their patrons' demographic makeup and service needs. Ensuing chapters examine specific issues faced by patrons and illustrate how libraries are stepping in. Service, defined broadly, includes programming, collection concerns, and community partnerships. The author explores service both in- and outside the library. A later chapter looks at services to immigrants, those who are incarcerated, and adults with physical or mental health challenges. A sample satisfaction survey, a list of service competencies, and other helpful forms can be found in the appendix. Roberts's holistic approach to addressing the physical, social, and intellectual needs of patrons as they navigate adulthood outshines similar titles, such as Elsie A. Rogers Halliday Okobi's Library Services for Adults in the 21st Century. VERDICT A stellar resource for public librarians.-Lydia Olszak, Bosler Memorial Lib., Carlisle, PA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xi
1 Planning for Library Services to Adults	p. 1
Know Thy Community	p. 1
Survey Thyself: Customer Satisfaction and Evaluating Services	p. 3
Know Thyself and Thy Staff: Competencies in Serving Adults	p. 6
Improve Thyself: Professional Development for Adult Services Librarians	p. 8
2 Waiting in the Wings: Age Group 19-24	p. 11
Millennial: "Adultolescents" or Emerging Adults?	p. 11
Library Services for the Emerging Adult	p. 15
Collection Development and Programs	p. 19
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 23
3 Taking Center Stage: Age Group 25-30	p. 29
Library Usage	p. 29
Library Services for This Age Group	p. 30
Collection Development and Programs	p. 34
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 39
4 Settling Down: Age Group 30-40	p. 43
Library Services for This Age Group	p. 44
Collection Development and Programs	p. 45
Library Services for Children	p. 49
Family Literacy	p. 50
Other Kinds of Literacy	p. 58
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 60
5 Midlife Crisis (or Not): Age Group 40-55	p. 63
Stuck in the Middle	p. 63
Libraries Caring for the Caregivers	p. 66
Collection Development and Programs	p. 68
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 73
6 An End in Sight (or Not): Age Group 55-65	p. 77
Library Services for the Soon-to-Be Retired	p. 78
Collection Development and Programs	p. 80
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 88
7 Now I Can Finally Relax (or Not): Age Group 65-75	p. 91
Jumping into Retirement or Not?	p. 91
Library Services to Active Seniors	p. 92
Library Collections and Programs	p. 94
Programming for Lifelong Learning	p. 95
Opportunities for Service	p. 97
Creating a Space for Seniors	p. 99
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 100
8 Reflecting upon Life's Journey: Age Group 75 and Beyond	p. 103
Library Services to Older Adults	p. 104
Outreach to Institutions and In-Home Library Services	p. 104
Assistive Technology and Computer Enhancements	p. 107
Collection Development and Programs	p. 109
Journaling and Oral History Projects	p. 110
Local History Displays and Programming	p. 114
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 116
9 Library Service to All	p. 121
Service to Immigrant Populations	p. 121
Programming for Immigrant Populations	p. 129
Library Services to the Incarcerated	p. 131
Library Services to People with Disabilities	p. 132
Mental Health Issues in Libraries	p. 137
More Detailed Programming Ideas	p. 140
10 Conclusion	p. 143
Taking on Life's Challenges	p. 143
Serving the Entire Community	p. 144
Appendix A Customer Satisfaction Surveys	p. 145
Appendix B Competency Index for the Library Field, Adult Services	p. 155
Appendix C Adult Volunteer Application	p. 163
Appendix D Volunteer Policy	p. 167
Appendix E Library-by-Mail Homebound Application Form	p. 169
Appendix F Reasonable Accommodation Request Form	p. 173
Index	p. 175

Available:

Bound With These Titles

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Table of Contents