NMRLS Designated a Lifelong Access Libraries Center of Excellence
Libraries for the Future recently designated NMRLS as one of two new Centers of Excellence and Innovation as part of its Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative! The Initiative is a four-year project of LFF, funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, to create awareness of changing demographics relating to older active adults, and to suggest strategies for developing library programs and services to respond to the needs and interests of the baby boomers and other active older adults.
From the Center of Excellence Press Release:
"The Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS) serves 54 communities in Northeast
Massachuset ts. NMRLS has been a leader in providing training and technical support to improve
collections and services to baby boomers and older adults, including hosting workshops on Lifelong Access
Libraries since 2003 and sending representatives from several member libraries to LFF’s EqualAccess
Institute and the 2007 Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute. NMRLS staff and member libraries
have produced exemplary programming for older adults including:
- PrimeTime Peabody, a year-long program developed by the Peabody Institute Library to respond
to the “lifelong educational, recreational, and cultural needs and interest of a diverse and growing
community of active, older adults”;
- LiveWires: Boomers and Beyond, a new collection and programming scheduled developed by the
Reading Public Library for 55+ patrons; and
- the Lifelong Access Libraries Exchange, a website maintained by NMRLS to provide best practices
and tools to library staff for developing new programming for midlife and older adults.
"The effort that both NMRLS staff and member libraries have devoted to the Lifelong Access Libraries
Initiative has benefited both librarians and older adult in Massachusetts, and will continue to do so," said
Waldron."
This designation comes with $16,000 over two years. With the funding, NMRLS will offer training opportunities to continue the work of Lifelong Access Libraries and promote the work members have initiated (e.g., PrimeTime Peabody, Reading’s LiveWires, and Chelmsford ’s Becoming the Butterfly).
See the announcement and full press release at: http://www.lifelonglibraries.org/cent_excell.php
Third Annual Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute
July 27- July 30, 2008
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Libraries for the Future (LFF) invites applicants for its third annual Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute, to be held July 27 through July 30, 2008, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The Institute, which will introduce participants to Lifelong Access - a framework for working with older adults through learning and civic engagement - will focus on three primary areas:
- Concepts and research underlying new approaches to working with midlife and older adults;
- Promising practices in library services, including the Lifelong Access framework for new older adult services; and
- Leadership and skills in community librarianship.
Selection will be on a competitive basis, and Fellows' travel, tuition, and room and board for the Institute will be covered by LFF.
The application deadline is May 5, 2008. For more information and a downloadable application, visit: <http://www.lifelonglibraries.org/institute_new.php>
