Mitigating the Challenges and Capitalizing on Opportunities: A Qualitative Investigation of the Public Library’s Response to an Aging Population

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Kaitlin Wynia Baluk ◽  
Meridith Griffin ◽  
James Gillett
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
The Many ◽  
Depth Interviews

ABSTRACT Public libraries are community hubs that can both create opportunities and address challenges often associated with later life and population aging. Using a thematic analysis of 18 in-depth interviews with public librarians, this study investigates common practices and challenges experienced while developing programs for older adults. This analysis is augmented by an environmental scan of older-adult programming offered in member libraries of the Canadian Urban Library Council (CULC). Results indicate that public librarians leverage community partnerships and staff training to develop programs that foster digital, financial, language, and health literacy and create opportunities for both intergenerational and peer social connection. At the same time, they face challenges related to limited space, budgets, and staff capacity, difficulty meeting the extensive and often conflicting interests of various groups within the library, and marketing programming to older adults. Findings indicate that public libraries may be key players in mitigating challenges often associated with having an aging population, and indeed highlight the many benefits of valuing and providing services to this population.

Immaterial labour, public librarians, and third-generation public libraries

2016 ◽  
Vol 117 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 186-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan A Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Future ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
Policy Arena ◽  
Blind Spots

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to draw attention to one specific upper-level government policy document in which a discourse of perpetual innovation and customer service is promoted, and the kinds of questions such discursive interventions raise for the future of work in public libraries; and second, to demonstrate the explanatory potential of the concept of immaterial labour for questions relating to emerging labour processes in libraries. The concepts of “prosumer” and Web 2.0 are included as discursive resources of relevance to any discussion of immaterial labour. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a critical discourse analysis of a public policy visioning document for public libraries in Ontario, Canada, with reflections on related literatures. Findings – The concept of immaterial labour provides an additional analytic tool suitable for questions of relevance to public librarians and library scholars. Within the government text under review which deals specifically with the future of the public library to 2020, the identity of the public librarian is alarmingly absent. Conversely, the library patron as a producer and consumer is privileged. Research limitations/implications – Failure to attend to the broader policy arena within which the public library resides creates dangerous blind spots for public library professionals, educators and researchers. Practical implications – This paper demonstrates the value of a discourse analysis for uncovering the ideological dimensions of policy documents, while simultaneously modelling the method using the kind of policy text commonly produced in governments around the world. Social implications – This paper shows how failure to attend to the broader policy arena within which the public library resides creates dangerous blind spots for the public library community. Originality/value – This paper contextualizes the immaterial and volunteer labour of the public library user as producer/consumer in the context of the future of the frontline professional and waged librarian.

Public Libraries in Ireland II. Public libraries and the visual arts today

2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 41-44
Author(s):  
Deirdre Ellis-King ◽  
Marjory Sliney
Keyword(s):  
Visual Arts ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Cultural Institutions ◽  
Library Service ◽  
The Public ◽  
Library Network ◽  
The Many

In recent years increased interest in the visual arts has led public libraries to increase stock to support this area, to organise exhibitions and to make connections with other arts-related bodies. The recognised extent, quality and value of the public library network lie both in its service to users and in good-quality and centrally located buildings. Imaginative links have been made between the library service and other cultural institutions in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe, particularly in the many thinly populated areas of the country which could otherwise be isolated from the cultural facilities available in the larger conurbations.

Origins of depression in later life

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 1241-1252 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAN G. BLAZER ◽  
CELIA F. HYBELS
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Stressful Life Events ◽  
Cognitive Distortions ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Social Risks ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
The Many

Background. Despite the burden of depression in late life, its origins present a paradox to investigators and clinicians alike.Method. We review biological (genetics and heredity factors, neurotransmitter dysfunction, endocrine changes, vascular disorders, and medical co-morbidities), psychological (personality attributes, neuroticism, cognitive distortions, and the lack of emotional control and self-efficacy) and social (stressful life events, bereavement, chronic stress or strain, socio-economic disadvantage and impaired social support) origins of late-life depression based upon an extensive though not exhaustive review of the extant literature. In addition, modifying psychological and social factors are discussed.Results. Older adults appear to be at greater risk for major depression biologically, such as depression resulting from vascular changes, yet the frequency of depression is lower compared to younger adults. Older adults may be protected psychologically due to factors such as socio-emotional selectivity and wisdom, compared to younger adults, and perhaps relatively protected from social risks.Conclusions. A biopsychosocial approach to evaluating the origins of late-life depression is heuristically valuable, a continual reminder of the many factors that contribute to the onset and persistence of clinically significant symptoms in late life.

A Meta-Analysis of the Correlates of Successful Aging in Older Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 657-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sin-Hyang Kim ◽  
Sihyun Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Aging Population ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Analytic Method ◽  
Consensus Definition ◽  
Online Databases

Objective: Successful aging (SA) is a concept that remains without a consensus definition. The purpose of the current study was to explore the components of SA by systematically reviewing factors correlated with SA. We also compared the relative strength of the components by using the meta-analytic method. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively synthesize the correlates of SA from three online databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and SCOPUS. Main Findings: The correlates were categorized into four domains: (1) avoiding disease and disability, (2) having high cognitive/mental/physical function, (3) actively engaging in life, and (4) psychologically well adapted in later life. The domain “psychologically well adapted in later life” showed the strongest association with SA, ES( r) = .482. Conclusion: The findings of this study were meaningful in terms of examining the strength of the correlations between the domains and overall SA and, further, providing evidence for building interventions for aging population.

scholarly journals Study Fenomenologi : Pengalaman Ibu Hamil yang Pertama Kali Terdiagnosis Preeklampsia di RSUD Koja Provinsi DKI Jakarta

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Nina Sunarti ◽  
Natsir Nugroho ◽  
Atik Hodikoh
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Nursing Services ◽  
The Many ◽  
Depth Interviews

The process of pregnancy will make physical and psychological changes that are complex and require adaptation. Complications that occur in the mother during pregnancy will threaten the welfare of the mother and fetus. One of the many conditions experienced during pregnancy is Eclampsia / preeclampsia which is one of the direct causes of death in mothers. The purpose of this study was to determine the experience of pregnant women who were first diagnosed with preeclampsia, this process will produce an experience for the prospective mother. The research method used is a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. Taking participants by purposive sampling, as many as 7 participants were informants. Data collection is done by in-depth interviews (indepht interview). The results of the study, it is known the experience of pregnant women who were first diagnosed with preeclampsia with 7 themes namely the reasons referred and feelings when diagnosed with preeclampsia, understanding, signs or characteristics, family support, culture of preeclampsia, hopes for nursing services, hopes in later life related to preeclampsia experiences. In conclusion, pregnant women who were first diagnosed with preeclampsia expressed feelings of sadness and distrust, not all participants in this study felt the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Family support at that time was very meaningful for participants. Family member factors that influence the participant's disease at that time there are those who influence it or not, as well as monthly family income factors. Expectations of mothers to nursing services related to preeclampsia is to get information as early as possible for the prevention of complications in pregnancy. Hope for the next life related to the experience that has been gained can be a lesson for the future so that this case does not recur in the next pregnancy.Keywords: Experience of pregnant women, preeclampsia, risk factors for preeclampsia

Stacking the Odds: A Phenomenological Study of Non-problem Gambling in Later Life

2005 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Hagen ◽  
Gary Nixon ◽  
Jason Solowoniuk
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Behavioural Strategies

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this exploratory, phenomenological-hermeneutic study was to explore the experience of non-problem gambling by older adults. Twelve older gamblers were identified as non-problem gamblers using two gambling screens and participated in in-depth interviews about their experience of gambling. Two major themes emerged from the interviews: the attractions of gambling and methods to keep gambling in control. Older persons sought out gambling for a variety of reasons: social contact, the food and the excitement, chances to give to charity, chances to have an inexpensive holiday, and the need for a safe way to be “bad”. Participants also described a number of cognitive and behavioural strategies to keep their gambling from becoming a problem. The results of this small exploratory study suggest that gambling is a popular form of social entertainment for older persons, although the main attractions of gambling have little or nothing to do with gambling itself. Older persons also appear to possess numerous strategies to keep gambling from becoming a problem.

Redeploying public librarians to the front-lines: prioritizing digital inclusion

2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 370-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan A. Stevenson ◽  
Caleb Domsy
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
Public Librarian

Purpose This paper aims to draw attention to the quiet, if inadvertent, disappearance of the front-line public librarian, as libraries make difficult organizational choices in the struggle to survive the relentless pressures to cut costs on one side while supporting a market ethos of customer service on the other. Design/methodology/approach Informed by the preliminary findings of a pan-Canadian study of labour in large urban public libraries and a review of professional and academic literatures dealing with contemporary service trends, four models/proposals [(1) participative, (2) community-led, (3) managerial/leadership and (4) digital inclusion] are critically reviewed with respect to their positioning of the front-line professional librarian. Findings The paper concludes with an argument in favor of one of these proposals because it supports the relevance of public librarians in service to their communities while remaining true to the democratic aspirations of this vital public service within our increasingly complex information societies. Research limitations/implications The implication of this work is that by drawing our attention to the contradictions inherent within contemporary and popular library initiatives, the disconnect between formal education and professional practice is highlighted, thus providing a foundation for new empirical research into the changing nature of waged work (professional and non-professional) in public libraries. Practical implications Failure to situate the professional public librarian strategically and unambiguously within the rapidly evolving roles of the public library has implications for LIS educators, employers and, as significantly, current and future students. Social implications Despite the high rates of connectivity among Western nations and the increasing sophistication of their populations, the digital divide persists among a growing urban and rural underclass. Building, maintaining and promoting a strong and accessible municipal information infrastructure, one could argue, is what public librarianship is all about. Originality/value This paper’s identification and critical review of the four dominant service models proposed for the present public library represents the first time that these literatures have been assembled together and critically interrogated for their implications for the work of public librarians. Given the importance of the question “what is the future role of the public library”, a critical analysis of the key contenders is a necessary exercise, as is shifting the subject of the conversation away from the customer and onto the professional public librarian.

scholarly journals Book Review: Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian

2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Nelson Dent
Keyword(s):  
Public Libraries ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Business Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Public ◽  
Business Degrees ◽  
Embedded Librarian ◽  
Public Librarians ◽  
Public Librarian

New public librarians will get a solid return on their investment with Barbara A. Alvarez’s new release, Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian. Alvarez offers libraries a step-by-step guide to make business services in public libraries a success. As Alvarez points out, not all public librarians have business degrees, and providing business services in public libraries can be daunting to those new to the profession. Luckily, this primer by Alvarez, who served as a business liaison librarian, gives the rest of us a guide for serving as an embedded librarian for the business sector through organized and systematic involvement in the community.

scholarly journals Dying to Belong: The Importance of Familiarity in Later Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142094197
Author(s):  
Lucia Carragher ◽  
Catherine Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Services And Supports ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Despite the large amount of research into loneliness, the evidence base around effective ways of tackling loneliness among older adults is limited. Up to one-half of all older adults regularly feel lonely, negatively impacting physical and mental health. In light of population aging, family dispersal, and in the aftermath of COVID-19, it is vital that we grow the evidence base around the lived experience of older people, knowing what they want and why, and ensuring community services and supports are meaningful to them. Method: Three focus groups were held with community-dwelling older adults in Ireland. Results: Loneliness is associated with the loss of familiarity and connection to community. Conclusions: Understanding loneliness in later life is increasingly important with population aging. As plans for ending confinement linked to COVID-19 are devised, a mechanism is urgently needed to sustain the positive changes to communities which have meaningfully connected with older adults.

A review exploring the facets of the value of public libraries

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 354-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Stenstrom ◽  
Natalie Cole ◽  
Rachel Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Resources ◽  
A Value ◽  
The Social ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
The Many

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss a review of the literature on the value of public libraries and propose a preliminary value framework for the public library based on the results. The review was conducted and the framework was developed as part of a larger ongoing project exploring the value of California’s public libraries. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a literature review of approximately 130 international, national and local resources from 1998 to 2018. Findings were developed through an analysis and synthesis of the works as they relate to public libraries. Findings The themes that emerged from the exploration of studies fell into three intersecting categories: support for personal advancement; support for vulnerable populations; and support for community development. A wide variety of quantitative and qualitative methods have been employed in this area of research. Among the many ways to discuss value, the most appropriate for the user will always depend on the context for which the concept of value is being defined. Practical implications Practitioners may find the various definitions of value useful when sharing information about public libraries with decision makers and other stakeholder audiences and when designing service models and outcomes. Originality/value The authors believe this paper is the first to identify the emergence of a value framework for the public library based on a literature review exploring both the social and financial value of public libraries.

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