PUBLIC LIBRARIES & BABY BOOMERS Introductory Webinar July 21, 2010

TODAY’S PRESENTERS Suzanne Flint, Library Programs Consultant, California State Library or Stephen Ristau, Fellowship Coordinator or Analisa Svehaug, Social Media Coordinator, HyperArts or

TODAY’S AGENDA Welcome & Background (Suzanne) –Fellowship Goals: Ours and Yours –Learning Philosophy –Creating a Community of Innovators Foundational Concepts & Rationale (Stephen) –How Aging is Changing – the New Longevity –Who are the Boomers and Why do They Matter? –From Ages to Stages –Transforming Libraries Fellowship Overview & Structure –Social Media Strategy (Analisa) –Activities Prior to the Institute (Suzanne) –Portland Institute (Stephen) –On-line Learning Community (Suzanne) –Surveys & Fellowship Evaluation (Stephen) Questions & Answers

BACKGROUND National initiative: Statewide initiative: Regional initiative:

FELLOWSHIP GOALS Inspire library innovation in serving and engaging adults, ages 50+ Transform libraries in the process

YOUR GOALS Better serve your communities and midlife adults, ages 50+ Ensure community appreciation for your libraries Foster your own professional growth

TIMES–THEY’RE CHANGING Individuals reshape institutions, NOT vice versa Transforming libraries = transforming ourselves –Passion –Connection –Mobilizing already existing resources –Taking risks

LEARNING PHILOSOPHY We believe YOU: Are self-directed Have knowledge and experiences worth contributing Are goal-oriented Are relevancy-oriented Are practical We believe OUR role is to: Create a stimulating learning environment Provide access to knowledgeable thought leaders Keep barriers low Provide feedback and facilitation Offer inspiration and practical examples

WHAT IS A FELLOWSHIP? Open exchange between peers Knowledge created not just shared Skill building Practical applications Interactive participation You get out what you put in

BUILDING COMMUNITY You are joining a community of library innovators IMAGINE…REALLY IMAGINE Bring your passion and creativity!

Foundational Concepts: How Aging Is Changing Extended lifespan - a new life stage Health and lifestyles Work, learning, and play Meaning and purpose Communities for all ages

Blue Zones - Keys to Longevity Move Naturally Right Outlook Eat Wisely Belong to the Right Tribe SOURCE: Dan Buettner,

Who are the Baby Boomers? GI Generation ,000,000 Silent Generation ,000,000 Baby Boomers ,000,000 Generation X ,000,000 Millennials ,000,000 GI Generation ,000,000 Silent Generation ,000,000 Baby Boomers ,000,000 Generation X ,000,000 Millennials ,000,000 45,000,000

One out of every three adults in America is a Baby Boomer. Source: US Census

Boomer General Characteristics Compared to previous generations, this cohort generally: Is living longer and healthier lives Has greater affluence with more options for work, learning, and leisure Better educated, skills, and knowledge Higher expectations

+23% million million +1% million million million million 91.5 million 91.5 million The “target” demographic? Source: US Census

A New Life Stage: Not Your (Grand) Parents Retirement 30 years added to the middle of life Uncharted territory with new opportunities and challenges Impacts boomers and the generations that follow

“Good news, honey – seventy is the new fifty.”

Optimizing Health SOURCE: Paul Nussbaum, Six Protective Factors Physical and cognitive declines can be reduced, delayed, or prevented by: Getting a good education Having a high sense of control Reducing stress and anxiety Exercising regularly Staying socially engaged Engaging in cognitively stimulating activities SOURCE: Lachman & Agrigoroaei, 2008

Spirituality and Aging Generativity vs. Self-Absorption (Erik Erickson) Meaning and Purpose (Robert Atchley) Active Wisdom (Mary Catherine Bateson) Life Legacy

New Options for Life After 50 Motivated to: Use their knowledge, skills, assets productively Have better balance between work, learning, and leisure Find meaning and passion-give back Childhood Adulthood Later Adult “Traditional Retirement” New Paradigm

Episodic formal engagement Part-time or seasonal nonprofit or public sector work Sustained work, often for a specific term Episodic, Informal participation Ongoing formal engagement Fulltime nonprofit or public sector work Occasional Low level commitment No organized volunteer structure Intermittent One-time commitment Organized volunteer structure Regular 2-5 hrs/week over 6-12 months/year Ongoing hrs/week 9-12 months/yr Part-time hrs/week Full-time 40 hrs/week Social entrepreneur Full-time+ Significant commitment of financial resources Salary or benefits possible but not likely Socially- responsible business creation Full-time+ and/or Significant commitment of financial resources Salary or benefits Investment returns Wages or Salary Health benefits Other employee benefits Wages or Salary Possible employee benefits Stipend Transportation Or meal expenses Insurance Possible expense reimbursement UNPAIDSTIPENDEDPAIDSOCIALVENTURES Encore Careers SOURCE: Spectrum of Social Purpose Work

Implications Don’t treat them like they are old or “seniors.” Take age out of your thinking Not “one size fits all” programs and strategies Rethink your volunteer and talent engagement strategies

Library TLA50 Innovation Partnerships Programs Promotion Place Position

CALIFORNIA RESPONSES Boomer Information Zone (BIZ) provided a space and resources for Boomer networking, re-careering and social networking. Taking the Bite Out of the Sandwich Years connected Boomers to local resources on topics about redefining aging, caring for an aging parent, and re-careering. BeHealthy5 offered a program series and monthly activity checklists promoting financial, mental, social, physical and spiritual health. Tame Your Tech allowed users to experiment with and evaluate technology gadgets for free. Feed Your Head featured experts on brain fitness and healthy aging. Digital Stories gathered first-hand accounts of 1960’s public school integration efforts and brought a community together. Volunteer Hub facilitated community-wide opportunities for Boomer volunteers via a library volunteer webpage and conference. Volunteer Speakers Bureau enabled Boomers to share a lifetime of expertise while helping the library provide low-cost programming.

FELLOWSHIP OVERVIEW Today’s webinar July 21 – Aug 13 Pre-institute activities July 22 – Sept 14 Portland Institute Sept 15 – Sept 17 Online Learning Sept 28 – May 9 Fellowship Concludes June 2011

PRE-INSTITUTE ACTIVITIES Required Activities –Introductory Slide for Institute (9/3) –Intentional Conversations Exercise (9/28) Elective Activity – Pick at least 1 (9/15) –Scan: Your local media –Read: one MetLife Research article –Watch: CNBC Brokaw Report: Boomer$

PORTLAND INSTITUTE Starts September 15 at 2pm Ends September 17 at 4pm On-time culture Welcome Committee Cutting-edge theory and practice Futures Lab (prepare to walk 20 blocks) Agenda available online Questions/information - contact Stephen Ristau

ON-LINE LEARNING Moodle classroom  09/28 to 10/18: Strategic Facilitation  11/02 to 11/22: Community Assessment  December 2010: BREAK  01/04 to 01/24: Partnerships & Collaborations  02/08 to 02/28: Volunteer Engagement  03/15 to 04/04: Evaluating Results  04/19 to 05/09: Engaged Programming & Social Media Strategies

SURVEYS & EVALUATIONS Independent Evaluator Joanne Marshall, School of Information and Library Science, UNC Chapel Hill Pre-Survey June 15-July 7, 2010 Interim Survey Sept 22-Oct. 6, 2010 Final Survey May 11-May 25, 2011

Libraries helping to navigate the road ahead.

Lead. Inspire. Change the World… Again. Corporation for National & Community Service QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

THANK YOU! Suzanne Flint, Library Programs Consultant, California State Library or Stephen Ristau, Fellowship Coordinator or Analisa Svehaug, Social Media Coordinator, HyperArts