Illinois Outreach to Seniors  

"Reach Out and Touch Your Community"

Marshall Public LibraryFunded by an LSTA grant*, "Reach Out and Touch Your Community" is a program developed by the Marshall Public Library to reach people in their community with information about services, programs, and materials available from the library and many other community agencies. Partnering with other city organizations, the library developed "one stop shopping information access" packets targeting four special groups - newcomers to the community, the growing population of Spanish speaking people, new parents and senior citizens .

Each of the packets is tailored to the specific needs and interests of each target group and are distributed at various locations in the Marshall area. For example, information on Peace Meal, senior activities at the library, Medicare, Illinois Circuit Breaker and many other items of interest for older adults are in the packet for senior citizens. 

Other Illinois libraries and projects reaching out to Older Adults and Seniors

  • North Aurora Messenger Public Library: The library continues to partner with Asbury Gardens care facility by providing outreach services to seniors and residents assisted living. Library staff visit the care facilities twice each month bringing a selection of large print and audio visual materials for residents to borrow. Staff also provides on-site readers advisory and interlibrary loan services.*

* Funding for these grants was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), A Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Older Adults & Seniors  
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senior coupleAmong the many diverse communities that libraries serve, older adults and seniors continue to be a growing population with unique needs. In 2006, the first of America's 77 million Baby Boomers turned 60. This generation is redefining what it means to be a "senior citizen."

Libraries are changing how they serve this population.  They are adapting their programming and outreach strategies, developing senior-friendly spaces, and implementing adaptive technologies. In this section you will find lists of helpful suggestions, case studies of individual libraries, and internet resources to help your library provide better services to older adults and seniors.