[Michlib-l] Alternative solutions to outreach for elderly patrons

[Janelle Bishop]

We still have a newspaper where I am living but the newspaper in my
hometown where my parents still live has stopped publishing recently also.
Here are some things that come to mind based upon conversations with my
mother who is not on social media and only online a little bit:

   - You can see if you can put library information in newsletters already
   going out to that population. For example, the senior center or the
   commission on aging might already be sending information to that
   demographic and might allow you to include something in their newsletter.
   - Post flyers for programs where seniors frequent: senior centers,
   commission on aging, popular restaurants, etc.
   - See if you can include library information with the meals on wheels
   delivery program.
   - Send (or drop off) a library newsletter to the retirement and nursing
   homes to be posted in their common gathering area.
   - Or visit the nursing/retirement homes and talk about what's happening
   at the library. Bring books! Start a book delivery program there.
   - Find out which senior is very chatty and knows (and talks to) everyone
   and tell them about your programs for that month and ask them to spread the
   word.
   - Depending on your budget, you can pull a report on any seniors that
   live in your area and send them a monthly newsletter of what is happening
   at the library that they might be interested in.

Good luck! I hope this helped a little.
Janelle

Janelle (Martin) Bishop
Head of Fiction
Marguerite deAngeli Library
Lapeer District Library
921 W. Nepessing St.
Lapeer, MI 48446
jmartin at lib.lapeer.org
810-664-6971 ext 3218




On Thu, Aug 11, 2022 at 6:15 PM Director via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> Our local newspaper announced today that they will be ceasing publication
> come this November 3rd. We relied on the newspaper heavily to reach elderly
> members of the community to share library news and upcoming events, as we
> have a dedicated section of the paper to submit columns for the library.
> Since they are discontinuing the newspaper, we will need to find other
> alternatives to engage these patrons, who usually are adverse to the usual
> methods of social media or a website (which we already also use, but see
> little engagement from older community members).
>
> I was wondering what other libraries do to reach these patrons if they do
> not have a local newspaper to rely on. I am happy to compile replies and
> send along to michlib if enough are interested in hearing responses.
>
> Thank you,
> Kelsey Rutkowski
> *--------------------------------------*
> *Library Director*
> *Indian River Area Library*
> 3546 S Straits Hwy
> PO Box 160
> Indian River, MI 49749
> (231) 238-8581
> indianriverlibrary.org
> _______________________________________________
> Michlib-l mailing list
> Michlib-l at mcls.org
> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>
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