Dear Public Library Colleagues,
I am including (below) an announcement for an upcoming Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute focusing on Library Service for 50+ Adults to be held December 1-2 in Newton, Mass. Attendance is limited; interested libraries can apply to send a library director, library trustee or adult services librarian. Winning applicants will receive funding to cover travel, meals and lodging for one night. Details, and a link to the application form, are below. Application deadline: November 14, 2008.
The demographic projections for Vermont tell us that our population of older citizens will grow more rapidly than other age group. Services to seniors, including enrichment programming, will be more important than ever in our state’s public libraries.
I encourage all interested libraries to learn more about this opportunity and to consider submitting an application.
Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
Tel: (802) 828-3265
martha.reid@mail.dol.state.vt.us
Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute
December 1-2, 2008
Newton, Massachusetts
Library Services for 50+ Adults are Focus of New England Institute
Specialists in the fields of aging, work, intergenerational programming and healthy aging will join Lifelong Access Fellows at a special Institute for New England’s library leaders to be held December 1-2 in Newton, Massachusetts.
Libraries for the Future (LFF), a national non-profit dedicated to supporting innovation and investment in public libraries, has announced the following confirmed speakers:
Mary Catherine Bateson, Anthropologist and Author
Robert Tietze, Director of Experience Corps, Philadelphi, a program of the Temple University Center for Intergenerational Programming
Diantha Dow Schull, Former President, Libraries for the Future
State library staff, library directors, directors of adult services, and members of library boards are encouraged to apply. Lodging, food and materials will be covered for all participants; travel stipends will be provided to individuals traveling more than 50 miles.
The New England Lifelong Access Institute will introduce participants to new theories and trends in the field of aging, focusing on adults approaching or entering retirement. It will provide an opportunity to explore the implications of these trends for libraries as centers for information, learning and community connections. It will offer new models for services based on an understanding of 50+ adults as assets for libraries and their communities. The Institute will focus on:
1)concepts and research underlying new approaches to working with midlife and older adults;
2)promising practices in adult services, including successful approaches being demonstrated by Lifelong Access Libraries Fellows across the country.
The New England Institute is part of LFF’s Lifelong Access Libraries initiative, designed to transform libraries as centers of lifelong learning and civic engagement for active older adults. Lifelong Access Libraries is funded by a major grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.
To Apply
The application is available online at http://www.lifelonglibraries.org. Selection will be on a competitive basis, with a maximum of thirty slots available.
The deadline for submitting an application is November 14, 2008. Please visit our website (http://www.lifelonglibraries.org) for further details.