About Lifelong Access Libraries
As 77 million baby boomers move into their later years, many are expected to be more active, healthier and more engaged in their communities than previous generations. Lifelong Access Libraries is a national initiative aimed at changing how public libraries create and deliver services to older adults. Lifelong Access Libraries is a project of Libraries for the Future funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies.
With the aging of the baby boomers, there has been an increase in the proportion of older adults who are active, and looking for social and civic engagement. Previous research indicates that older adults are interested in more opportunities for education, work and service that make a difference. Lifelong Access is a model for engaging active older adults that emphasizes learning, social connections, life planning and community engagement.
As part of its mission, the Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative is offering three annual Lifelong Access Libraries Institutes from 2006-2008. The institute is a week-long training program focusing on three areas: (1) concepts and research underlying new approaches to working with midlife and older adults; (2) leadership and skills in community librarianship; and (3) the core components of the Lifelong Access Libraries framework, as well as promising practices in library services for active older adults.
The Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative also highlights libraries or library systems that are implementing creative programs and services for active older adults. Centers of Excellence have been honored by Lifelong Access Libraries for setting the highest standard for programs and services for active older adults. The Centers serve as laboratories for community-library partnerships and professional learning that will benefit older adults and their communities.
The School of Information and Library Science and the UNC Institute on Aging were given a grant by the Libraries for the Future to evaluate the Lifelong Access Libraries Institutes and the Centers of Excellence.
The implementation of the Institutes and their outcomes are being analyzed using a mixed-methods methodology that incorporates surveys and interviews. The UNC evaluation team also will analyze the program implementation at these Centers, as well as outcomes. The research team is working with these Centers nationally to assess program effectiveness using a case study methodology. The case study provides an in-depth examination of individual users, staff and leaders involved in the Lifelong Access Libraries activities, as well as community-library partnerships.
For information on the Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative, please visit http://www.lifelongaccess.org/index.php.
