big talk from small libraries 2015 - the senior connection: helping technology make sense to seniors
TRANSCRIPT
Doris Ann MertzLibrary DirectorCuster County Library
Our LibraryBoard Direction
Mission Statement
Accreditation Standards
All LibrariesThe Need is there
Formalizing Makes It More Effective
Mutually beneficial partner?Senior Center
SchedulingPromotion
Formal/InformalBenefits
Fulfill a need in the communityEnhance the lives of SeniorsImprove attendance at programsIncrease use of library resourcesIncrease the library’s footprint
Custer Senior Center
Introduction to Facebook
Bring Your Own Device – OverDrive
Tablets 101
Book-A-Librarian
Ancestry Library
Others Electronic Resources
Held at Senior Center
Focused on:Developing a Profile
Adjusting Privacy Settings
Adjusting Notification Settings
Uploading photos
Messaging privately
Adding/removing friends
“Unfollowing” certain friends
Specify laptops/PCs or apps on tablets
Survey to determine needs of groupMost already had an account
Many want to view, not post
Provide take-home handouts
Know what your Wi-Fi can handle
Distinguish between Timeline & Newsfeed
Stress the need for passwords
Narrow the focus Ex: OverDrive
Group Similar DevicesAndroid tablets & Android smartphones
iPads, iPods, iPhones together
Kindle devices
Never had a Windows user need help
Provide library tablets for “test drives”
Provide take-home handouts if needed
Many received as gifts
Not sure they want it
“My kid set this up.”
PASSWORDS
Have a stylus handy
Some need basic skills
Limit class size
Survey their desires & focus on top 3
Common requestse-mail
How to share photos
OverDrive
GPS
Facetime/Skype
Games, Pandora, etc…
Offer individual help with topics not covered
Group similar devices
Group similar skill levels
Could expand to smartphones
Make sure it’s a real smartphone
Introduce to voice commands
Faster than typing/texting for them
Provide handouts of the basics
http://www.telstra.com.au/telstra-seniors/training-guides/
http://www.telstra.com.au/telstra-seniors/training-guides/
Individualized one-on-one sessions
Better than drop-insSchedule at a convenient time
Emphasize the need for all passwords
Focus on top 3 desires
Provide some use suggestions
Sometimes set-up; sometimes just turned on
If set-up, usually done by friend/family member
Add a free app through the app store
Show them how to move apps around
Show them how to uninstall apps
Show them how to access settings
Show them how to navigate/find menus
Encourage them to play
If it’s acting strange -- restart (soft reset)
Nursing Home Resident
From tablet borrower to tablet owner
How do I get rid of these Angry Birds?
“It’s an application!”
Host outside business hours
Provide handouts from “Charts & Forms”
Give brief introductions of both resources
Emphasize Ancestry is in-library use
Allow a lot of time for play/exploration
Give tips for improving results
Expect some dead-ends & frustration
Provide a dedicated computer
How to access charts/forms
How to truncate & use wildcard characters * ?
How to view actual document
How to link to others in household
How to send documents to e-mail
How to print documents
How to access Heritage Quest from home
How to take notes in Heritage Quest
It’s possible to teach old dogs new tricks
It’s rewarding to enrich lives
It’s o.k. to not know everything
It’s o.k. to search for answers
It’s o.k. to borrow from othersJust give them credit
It’s time to help Seniors with Technology
Doris Ann Mertz
Custer County Library Director
447 Crook St., Suite #4
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-4803