Winter delivers a charm all its own to Martha’s Vineyard, but it’s also the time of the year when life can be a little isolating for the area’s older residents.
“We live in a beautiful place, but it’s rural,” said Beth Kramer, director of the West Tisbury Public Library, one of more than 35 libraries belonging to CLAMS (Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing Network) on Cape Cod. “A lot of people don’t go out except for the essentials.”
The West Tisbury Library offers a robust assortment of special events and programs for all ages throughout the year, but is particularly valued for its comprehensive library services during the winter and its draw as a vibrant gathering place for older adults.
West Tisbury Library는 연중 내내 모든 연령대를 대상으로 강력한 행사 및 프로그램을 다양하게 제공하지만, 특히 겨울철에는 포괄적 인 도서관 서비스와 노인들을위한 활기찬 모임 장소로서의 가치를 인정 받고 있습니다.
In 2015, the library conducted a survey to tap into the needs of those who used the library; 75 percent of respondents were 51 and older. In 2017, the West Tisbury Library released a strategic plan which included a vision for the library as “a community center where life-long learning happens in a blended environment of quiet and collaborative space allowing self-discovery and connections between people.”
2015 년에 도서관은 도서관을 이용하는 사람들의 필요를 채우기 위해 조사를 실시했습니다. 응답자의 75 %는 51 세 이상이었다. 2017 년 West Tisbury Library는 도서관을 "개인 발견과 연결을 가능하게하는 조용하고 협조적인 공간의 혼합 된 환경에서 평생 학습이 이루어지는 공동체 센터"라는 비전을 포함하는 전략 계획을 발표했습니다.
Kramer offered one small example of how the library meets that goal each week: “We share a campus with the Up-Island Council on Aging, and most of our patrons use both services,” she said. “On Tuesday mornings, they host a popular discussion group, and after that’s over, many people come over to the library to read the paper, check out books or just visit with each other.”
크레이머 (Kramer)는 매주 도서관이 그 목표를 어떻게 달성하는지 보여주는 작은 예를 제시했습니다. "우리는 고령화에 관한 Up-Island Council과 캠퍼스를 공유하고 있으며, 대부분의 후원자는 두 가지 서비스를 모두 사용합니다. "화요일 오전에는 대중 토론 그룹을 주최합니다. 끝나면 많은 사람들이 도서관으로 와서 신문을 읽거나 책을 체크하거나 서로 방문합니다."
Best Ways to Build Community
Kramer, who has been the library director for 10 years, said that a few years ago, the library staff decided they wanted to offer enhanced programming for older residents, and sought their feedback. Two years ago, the West Tisbury Library and the Up-Island Council on Aging formed a small core group of local individuals who met regularly to discuss what they were interested in learning around the topics of aging and healthy lifestyles.
“Rather than offer a dry series of presentations, we wanted to feature programs that were really of interest,” said Kramer, adding that a series of free workshops on Balance with Chi Kung, Yoga and Breath was created, and ongoing hand massage sessions were introduced.
Other programs include TED Talk screenings, and discussions of green burials (environmentally friendly ones), a topic which Kramer said is of great interest to members of the community. The library also hosts Death Cafés, a space to engage in frank conversations about dying and bereavement.
다른 프로그램으로는 TED 토크 상영과 녹색 장례식 (환경 친화적 인 장례식)에 대한 토론이 있습니다.이 주제는 지역 사회 구성원들에게 큰 관심거리라고 Kramer는 말했습니다. 도서관에는 죽음과 사별에 관한 솔직한 대화에 참여할 수있는 Death Cafés도 있습니다.
“Many times, when we offer various programs, we serve homemade soup, bread and fruit,” she said. “We are really building community and inviting nourishing talks about shared concerns.”
Guests can also participate in creative classes, including painting and paper making. The library offers a Second Sunday Jazz Series for all ages, and is currently featuring a Women’s Winter Film Series. Library patrons can even rent instruments — including mandolins, guitars and ukuleles — and enroll in guitar lessons scheduled throughout the year.
“What we offer has been defined by who is participating,” said Kramer, adding that suggestions from patrons have resulted in the richness and variety of programming.
This Library Is About Books and More
It is a library after all, so guests can find books and DVDs, join a book club, and brush up on their technology skills or learn new ones.
“We have older residents who come in with different grasps on technology,” said Kramer. “Our IT/Reference librarian, Rachel Rooney, works one-on-one with residents on everything from downloading books to e-readers to miscellaneous computer questions that might come up.”
To further enhance the comfortable atmosphere of the light-filled library, coffee and biscotti (made at a local bakery) are available at minimal cost. Since Martha’s Vineyard is home to many authors, playwrights and poets, Kramer said that, in keeping with the library’s vision, quiet rooms have been set aside for people to work. Occasionally, the writers ask the library staff for their opinions. “We try not to edit material, but we are here to serve the people,” Kramer said with a laugh.
Helping Out in the Community
In addition to building up community spirit at the West Tisbury Library, Kramer said, volunteers gather up books, tea, coffee and cookies twice monthly and pay a visit to Windemere Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in West Tisbury.
“It’s great for the people who live there to have that connection with the library. Some of them are former librarians, so their life’s work is tied to the library. It feels so good for volunteers to be able to spend time with them,” said Kramer.
And in certain cases, a librarian’s outreach is never done. “Sometimes I’ll go out to someone’s home and fix a computer problem,” Kramer admitted, “or drop off a book.”
Tell Us About Your Local Library
Does your library offer innovative programming, special events or other resources for older adults? Have you learned something new by participating in workshops or classes at your library? What makes your library a valued part of your community? We’d like to hear from you. Send an e-mail to Julie Pfitzinger or visit our Facebook page.
출처 http://westtisburylibrary.org/this-library-creates-community-for-older-residents/
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기