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Re-Imaging Academic Reference Services for Older Non-Traditional Patrons

Re-Imaging Academic Reference Services for Older Non-Traditional Patrons. IOLUG Spring Program Library Road Maps: Patrons in the Driver’s Seat Indiana Online Users Group. Maria Hawkins and Edith Sicken University Libraries, Kent State University Kent, Ohio.

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Re-Imaging Academic Reference Services for Older Non-Traditional Patrons

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  1. Re-Imaging Academic Reference Services for Older Non-Traditional Patrons IOLUG Spring ProgramLibrary Road Maps: Patrons in the Driver’s SeatIndiana Online Users Group Maria Hawkins and Edith SickenUniversity Libraries, Kent State UniversityKent, Ohio

  2. Current State of Older Adult Reference Services Mostly focused on public library services and programming Many reference resources are out of date

  3. Why Consider Services for Older Adults? We’ve witnessed their challenges firsthand Older adults are returning to academia Learning environments and resources have changed It’s a basic principle of library service

  4. Current Statistics

  5. National Center for Education Statistics 2014 7,735 Institutions Included 2008, 2010, and 2012 were option years for data submission Students 65+: data includes full-time, part-time, undergraduate and graduate students

  6. National Center for Education Statistics 2014 385 Institutions included 2008, 2010, and 2012 were option years for data submission Students 65+: data includes full-time, part-time, undergraduate and graduate students

  7. Kent State University Office for RPIE 2014 Students 65+: data assumed to exclude students participating in audited courses and/or non-credit courses

  8. Challenges

  9. For Older Adults • Technological Factors: • Basic technology (email, file management, software and programs, etc.) • Educational (course management platforms, online resources, etc.) • Health Factors: • Auditory Factors • Visual Factors • Mobility Factors • Cognition

  10. For Librarians • Time: • Individual attention and instruction • Amount of staff • Understanding: • Customer service • Training specifically for needs of older non-traditional students • Patience

  11. Solutions

  12. Independently Used Resources • Instructional Materials: • LibGuides • Handouts • Point of Need Assistance: • Catalogs and databases • Library Computers – desktop applications • User-Friendly Sites & Software

  13. Librarian-Led Resources • Signage & Navigational Information • Gather Information from Users • Surveys / focus groups • Instruction • Walk-in seminars • One-on-One meetings

  14. ALA Guidelines Relevant to Academic Reference Demographics of community Budget allocation Assistive technology Trained library staff

  15. Ideas to Improve Service for All Older Adults Consider universal design Auditory: volume of speech, listening devices, quiet spaces Visual: public access computers with special software, handheld magnifiers/large print material, lighting Mobility: monitor aisles, provide motorized scooter

  16. Quick Ideas to Implement Print out relevant LibGuides Make desktop icons more visible Keep reference area clear Provide instructions

  17. Questions?

  18. References “Guidelines for library and information services to Older Adults”, American Library Association, September 29, 2008. http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines/libraryservices (Accessed May 15, 2014) Institution of Education Sciences. (2013). National Center for Education Statistics: IPEDS Data Center. Final Release Data 2008-2012. Ohio: Age, Level of Students. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter Institution of Education Sciences. (2013). National Center for Education Statistics: IPEDS Data Center. Final Release Data 2008-2012. United States: Age, Level of Students. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter "Keys to engaging older adults @ your library", American Library Association, July 11, 2011. http://www.ala.org/offices/olos/toolkits/olderadults (Accessed May 15, 2014) Mates, B. T. (2003). 5-star programming and services for your 55+ library customers. Chicago: American Library Association. Pew Research Center, April 2014, Older adults and technology use Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/ Prasad, P. (2009). Reference services to senior groups in the San Antonio public library. The Reference Librarian, 50(1), 99-108. Rothstein, P. M., & Schull, D. D. (2010). Boomers and beyond reconsidering the role of libraries. Chicago: American Library Association. Sarkodie-Mensah, K. (2000). Reference services for the adult learner: Challenging issues for the traditional and technological era. New York: Haworth Information Press. Vincent, Grayson K. and Velkoff, Victoria A. (2010), THE NEXT FOUR DECADES, The Older Population in the United States: 2010 to 2050, Current Population Reports, P25-1138, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC.

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