Re-Imaging Academic Reference Services for Older

Non-Traditional Patrons

Maria Hawkins and Edith SickenUniversity Libraries, Kent State University

Kent, Ohio

IOLUG Spring ProgramLibrary Road Maps: Patrons in the Driver

’s SeatIndiana Online Users Group

Mostly focused on public library services and

programming

Many reference resources are out of date

Current State of Older Adult Reference Services

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

Why Consider Services for Older Adults?

Current Statistics

Students 65+: data includes full-time, part-time, undergraduate and graduate students

2008, 2010, and 2012 were option years for data submission

7,735 Institutions Included

National Center for Education Statistics 2014

Students 65+: data includes full-time, part-time, undergraduate and graduate students

2008, 2010, and 2012 were option years for data submission

385 Institutions included

National Center for Education Statistics 2014

Students 65+: data assumed to exclude students participating in audited courses and/or non-credit courses

Kent State University Office for RPIE 2014

Challenges

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

For Older Adults

Time:

Individual attention and instruction

Amount of staff

Understanding:

Customer service

Training specifically for needs of older non-traditional

students

Patience

For Librarians

Solutions

Instructional Materials: LibGuides Handouts

Point of Need Assistance: Catalogs and databases Library Computers – desktop applications

User-Friendly Sites & Software

Independently Used Resources

Signage & Navigational Information

Gather Information from Users

Surveys / focus groups

Instruction

Walk-in seminars

One-on-One meetings

Librarian-Led Resources

Demographics of community

Budget allocation

Assistive technology

Trained library staff

ALA Guidelines Relevant to Academic Reference

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

Ideas to Improve Service for All Older Adults

Print out relevant LibGuides

Make desktop icons more visible

Keep reference area clear

Provide instructions

Quick Ideas to Implement

Questions?

“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.

References