PUBLIC LIBRARIES & BABY BOOMERSIntroductory Webinar

July 21, 2010

TODAY’S PRESENTERS

• Suzanne Flint, Library Programs Consultant, California State Library sflint@library.ca.gov or 916-651-9796

• Stephen Ristau, Fellowship Coordinator stephenristau@gmail.com or 503-281-4305

• Analisa Svehaug, Social Media Coordinator, HyperArts analisa@hyperarts.com or 510-339-6084

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: 2006-2009

• Statewide initiative: 2007-2010

• Regional initiative: 2010-2011

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 PHILOSOPHYWe 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, www.bluezones.com

Who are the Baby Boomers?

GI Generation 1905-25 50,000,000

Silent Generation 1926-45

35,000,000

Baby Boomers 1946-64 78,000,000

Generation X 1965-82 65,000,000

Millennials 1983-02 80,000,000

GI Generation 1905-25 50,000,000

Silent Generation 1926-45

35,000,000

Baby Boomers 1946-64 78,000,000

Generation X 1965-82 65,000,000

Millennials 1983-02 80,000,000

45,000,00045,000,000

One out of every three adults in America is a Baby Boomer.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%

+23%

113.0million113.0million

+1%+1% 136.3million136.3million

18-4918-49

50+50+

135.3million135.3million

91.5million91.5million

The “target” demographic?The “target” demographic?

Source: US Census

20072007 20172017

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, www.paulnussbaum.com

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

LearnWorkLeisure

LearnWorkLeisure

Childhood Adulthood Later Adult

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

Ongoingformal 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

10-15 hrs/week

9-12 months/yr

Part-time

16-32 hrs/week

Full-time

40 hrs/week

Social entrepreneur

Full-time+

Significantcommitment offinancialresources

Salary orbenefitspossible butnot likely

Socially-responsiblebusinesscreation

Full-time+ and/or

Significantcommitment offinancialresources

Salary orbenefits

Investmentreturns

Wages or Salary

Health benefits

Other employeebenefits

Wages orSalary

Possibleemployeebenefits

Stipend

TransportationOr meal expensesInsurance

Possibleexpensereimbursement

UNPAID STIPENDED PAID SOCIAL VENTURES

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.

www.transforminglifeafter50.org

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 EvaluatorJoanne Marshall, School of Information and Library Science, UNC Chapel Hill marshall@ils.unc.edu

• 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 sflint@library.ca.gov or 916-651-9796

• Stephen Ristau, Fellowship Coordinator stephenristau@gmail.com or 503-281-4305

• Analisa Svehaug, Social Media Coordinator, HyperArts analisa@hyperarts.com or

510-339-6084