Washoe County Library Reno Senior Center Collections & Services Recommendations
Author: Megan O’Karma
INFO665: Collection Development (Collins)
July 20, 2010
Table of Contents
I. Overview
Pages 3-4
II. General Selection Criteria
Pages 4-5
III. Subject Areas and Formats Collected
Pages 5-10
IV. Eldercare Resources
Page 11
V. Community Collaboration and Outreach Efforts
Pages 11-12
VI. User Feedback, Collection Evaluation, and Deselection
Pages 12-14
VII. Gifts of Library Materials
Page 14
VIII. Bibliography
Pages 14-16
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I.
Overview
The Washoe County Library system’s Senior Center branch in downtown Reno was
established as a response to the unique interests of older residents of the City of Reno and
Washoe County at large. While the senior population’s informational, educational, cultural, and
recreational needs overlap with those of younger generations to an extent, research shows that
older adults (defined at 55 and older) have distinct points of view that deserve to be addressed by
their local libraries (Prasad 99; RUSQ Guidelines 209). As public libraries aim to enhance the
quality of life of the general public, the Senior Center’s mission is to do the same for this
significant population.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimated that in 2008, 24% of
Washoe County’s population was over the age of 55; roughly half of those people are Reno
residents. Meanwhile, an increasing number of Baby Boomers (defined as being born between
1946 and 1964) are reaching the average age of retirement every day, a trend that is projected to
continue until 2019 (Zabel 128). With numbers like these, public libraries would be remiss to
ignore older Americans when building collections and budgeting for materials, services and
programming. Also of note is Reno’s race/ethnicity makeup. While over three-quarters of the
population are white, the Hispanic population of Reno is well above the national average
(12.5%) at 19%. Asians account for roughly 9.5%, while African Americans account 2.6%, and
Native American/American Indians and Hawaiian Pacific Islanders each account for about 1.3%.
This diversity must be taken into account by the branch librarian when obtaining materials for
the Senior Center collection.
While some libraries successfully cater to seniors by way of integrating senior-focused
materials into the regular collection (Prasad 100), Washoe County has chosen to establish a
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separately housed facility that serves seniors exclusively in light of the increase in use of
libraries by this age group (Ahlvers 305). What follows are several recommendations for
maximizing usage of and satisfaction with the Senior Center’s collection.
II.
General Selection Criteria
All items in the Reno branch library Senior Center collection should be evaluated using
the following criteria.

Relevant to the service community

Relevant to a multicultural audience

Subject and content is suitable and inoffensive to the target audience

Titles are well regarded among professional critics and reviewers

Requested by members of the target audience

Cost is reasonable given library budget constraints

Reputation of author/creator is largely favorable

Physical format of item is manageable by patrons of varying abilities

Physical format will endure heavy usage

Technical quality of electronic media is high
While this list is in keeping with standard criteria used in many public library collection policies,
suitability, inoffensiveness and physical format considerations should be stressed with regard to
the Senior Center. User studies of elderly library patrons show that older adults are often more
conservative in their views than younger people, and more easily offended by sexual, violent, or
otherwise explicit content, though this may be less true for Baby Boomers (Ahlvers 308; Zabel
128-129). Thus, the better part of the Senior Center collection should be comprised of ageappropriate materials to reflect this heightened sensitivity. “Better part” rather than “all” is used
here for two reasons: 1) many seniors actually enjoy narratives containing gratuitous sex and/or
violence, either in spite of or because of such content (Ahlvers 309), and 2) the market for
explicit material in the world at large increases every day, thus rendering items that are
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considered universally inoffensive more difficult to come by. One solution to prevent easily
offended patrons from accidently happening upon more explicit materials in the Senior Center
collection is to label them in an obvious way (i.e. with a sticker on the spine or front cover),
similar to “parental advisory” stickers that appear on many popular compact discs.
Like sensitivity to explicit content, unwieldiness of format is particularly problematic for
seniors and will be discussed in detail in the next section.
III.
Subject Areas and Formats Collected
Print Collection
As with any age group, the reading interests of older adults vary from person to person,
but as mentioned previously, this group has its interests concentrated well enough that the
popularity of particular genres and topics should be taken into account when developing the
Senior Center’s collection (Prasad 102; Robertson 24). Much of the literature on serving senior
adult populations agree that mysteries and thrillers, romance, biographies and popular historical
narratives on the recreational/pleasure side, and finance, travel, crafts, gardening, government,
health and well-being (for themselves and their pets), and wisdom/spiritual on the
practical/utilitarian side are the favored subjects among the 55 and older demographic
(Robertson 24; Robertson 78; Prasad 101; Zabel 128-129). Other research has narrowed the
focus even further by breaking down this demographic into three distinct sub-groups, namely the
Baby Boomers (55-63 years old) and the so-called Silent (64-84) and GI (85+) generations, and
ascribing interests to each (Ahlvers 306-308). Considering that they were children, teens, or in
their twenties during the politically and socially turbulent 1960s and early 1970s, it is
unsurprising that of these three sub-groups, the Baby Boomers tend to be the least turned off by
reading and viewing materials that are explicitly sexual or violent, and thus enjoy the true crime
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and horror genres far more than their elders (Ahlvers 307). Periodicals, especially newspapers,
are also much favored by senior patrons. Considering these preferences and nuances among
older adults, the Senior Center collection should include many titles reflecting these literary
inclinations.
Like many avid readers, seniors prefer to stay abreast of the latest titles in the genres they
prefer or by the authors they adore, and can sometimes be demanding of librarians (Ahlvers
306). While senior-specific selection aids are difficult to come across, the Senior Center
librarian would be wise to regularly consult commercial resources such as Publishers Weekly,
Bookseller, and newspaper reviews like the Washington Post Book Reviews and the New York
Times Book Review to keep up with bestseller titles and popular genres that many seniors favor
(Evans and Saponaro 87, 90; Robertson 24).
DVD & CD Collections
In a pithy editorial from a 2003 issue of American Libraries, media analyst Walt
Crawford, an admitted “book snob,” submits that “video tells some stories better than books, and
frequently does so in ways that serve library missions.” Many public libraries share this
viewpoint and as a result have for decades reserved room on their shelves for VHS
videocassettes and now DVDs (how much room varies). So too should the senior center have a
place for DVD titles geared toward the interests of older adults such as classics, Westerns,
romantic comedy, mystery/thrillers, documentaries, and television series (AARP website). The
ability to borrow music CDs is also standard for public library collections; purchasing a decent
variety in the classical, jazz, pop, classic rock n’ roll, and adult contemporary genres should be
among the goals for the Senior Center’s own collection (AARP website).
World Wide Web Resources
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Much of the literature and research on senior library users do not support the stereotype
that seniors are either unable or unwilling to learn how to use new technologies, the World Wide
Web in particular (Nasmith & Parkinson 680; Xie & Bugg 160). Some older patrons want web
access to email their grandchildren, while others are just as tech-savvy as your average middle
aged person, Google-ing topics of interest regularly. With regard to content, the Washoe County
Library’s web portal for older adults, called Senior Central, features a page with hyperlinks to a
websites geared toward seniors (AARP, Washoe County Senior Services) organized by topic
(e.g. Travel and Leisure), in addition to the “Ask a Librarian” and Washoe County Library
Research Databases links.
The Senior Central web portal also features an online web “tutorial” which is comprised
of several links to websites to guides and tips on learning how to use the internet, most of which
target seniors (e.g. The Seniors Guide to Computers). These links are prefaced by a link to
information about one-on-one volunteer-lead web tutoring sessions which are 30 minutes long
and are offered weekly. The portal also advertises programs offered to seniors such as various
book discussion groups and the Lifescapes writing program. Overall, the Senior Central web
portal is a well organized, visually pleasing, user friendly resource. One recommendation with
regard to additions and changes would be to perhaps feature a cache of links just for Baby
Boomers, many of whom do not view themselves in the stereotypical white-haired, frail version
of “old folks” that are often portrayed by the media (and in the photo of the elderly couple that
graces the Senior Central portal’s home page, which should also be reconsidered) (Zabel).
Alternative Formats
As important as recognizing subject areas of interest among older adult library patrons is
an awareness of the need to offer materials in a variety of formats in order to accommodate
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myriad physical, financial, or other circumstantial limitations that members of this particular age
group often experience. The following is a discussion of alternative formats that are currently on
the market and to varying degrees should be available for Senior Center patrons.
Visual Aids
Large print books – A May 2009 analysis of the market for large print books among
those publishers who offer them found reported that despite the economic downturn, demand for
large print materials had increased dramatically from the previous year (Robbins 26). As a
result, the number and types of books available in large print is also expanding which is very
good news for seniors who struggle to read your average paperback with its 12-point or smaller
typeface. Even Kindle offers the Kindle DX which features a screen that is more than double the
size of its original model to accommodate large print. Still, it must be noted that the availability
of large print versions of bestsellers, for instance, is tiny compared to the number of standard
format titles available. Furthermore, purchasing large print titles in any serious numbers can be
very costly for public libraries that are cash-strapped to begin with (Robbins 28). However,
budgeting for large print titles must be a priority if the Senior Center is to uphold its commitment
to the special needs of older adults.
As for large print e-readers like the Kindle DX, it is important to have an awareness of its
existence and to follow the rate of demand going forward, but at the present time most public
libraries, including Reno, cannot justify their considerable cost (though it may be worthwhile for
a collection development librarian to contact Amazon about donating a “teaser” sample of the
device). Finally, for those patrons who do not suffer motor impairment and do not consider them
a nuisance to use, magnifying glasses are a basic and inexpensive tool for libraries to have on
hand for use by senior populations and others with visual impairment.
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Audiobooks – Investing in audiobooks is a good idea for meeting the interests of all
library users, not just the visually impaired and elderly. People of all ages and abilities enjoy
them. However, it is recommended that the Senior Center invest in several audiobook titles that
specifically reflect the reading preferences of older adults as discussed previously. In cases
where a particular title or author is known to be very popular among seniors but also known to be
popular among young people, such as Stephanie Meyer (Robbins 28), purchasing extra copies
that can “float” among various Washoe branches is advisable.
Talking books and Braille books – The Library of Congress’s National Library Service is
the best source for talking books and books in Braille. Eligible borrowers, either individuals or
institutions, can receive selections in these formats free of charge thanks to government funding
(Taylor 49). The Reno library administration is encouraged to contact NLIS for further
information on acquiring materials they produce for inclusion in the Senior Center collection.
Photocopiers that allow for print enlargement – this is self-explanatory.
Auditory Aids
The American Library Association Office of Literary and Outreach Services published a
guide for librarians on how to engage senior patrons and include many suggestions with regard
to resources for those with disabilities entitled “Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ Your
Library.” The guide’s suggestions for purchasing auditory aids include text telephones (TTY) or
video phones, noise blocking assistive listening devices, and real time captioning devices (e.g.
Caption First; see bibliography for website). Other research on collecting for seniors and/or the
hearing impaired recommends closed captioned and descriptive DVDs and taking advantage of
free Instant Messaging programs (Prasad 102; Bell and Peters 21).
Miscellaneous
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Bi-Folkal kits – Bi-Folkal “remembering kits” are unique collections of ephemera,
writings, and media classified by theme for the purpose of inspiring fond memories and thoughts
of past eras (e.g. the 1950s) or pleasant topics (e.g springtime). They are popular among senior
patrons in libraries such as the Brooklyn Public Library (per their website’s portal for seniors)
and branches of Lee County, Florida Library System (Mayo 2004), and ideal for use in library
programs that target senior audiences (poetry readings, book discussion group meetings, teensenior mixers).
It should be noted that these are but a few suggestions for accommodating those seniors
with common age-related conditions. A comprehensive list of resources and technologies can be
found on the Association for Specialized Collections and Library Agencies website (see
bibliography for links). Should the need arise for more or better equipment to address the needs
of Senior Center patrons with these disabilities, opportunities for raising grant funds to carry the
extra costs should be researched (ALA’s website features a grants directory).
Multilingual & Multicultural Materials
One set of professional guidelines for serving multilingual library communities
recommends collecting titles in native languages; for the Senior Center’s purposes Spanish
language materials should be the top priority with Asian language materials not far behind.
Literacy and ESL materials should also be available for non-English speakers. Patron demand is
not acceptable as a primary or sole source for adding materials to the collection because, per the
guidelines, “low demand for multilingual materials may be the result of inadequacy of
collections, services, and publicity in the past.” Lastly, it should go without saying that
multicultural interests and experiences should be reflected in the Senior Center’s English
language collection (Piper, Palmer, and Xie 116; RUSA 2007).
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IV.
Eldercare Resources
A secondary population that the Senior Center collection should accommodate is
caregivers for the elderly who are most often adult children of seniors or spouses in relatively
good health. As the aging population continues to grow, so too do the numbers of people who
are responsible for their well-being (McCallips 191). Many of these people lead busy lives that
include full time careers and their own children to tend to, so the addition of an aged parent or
relative as a dependent can be incredibly stressful and demanding. A 2005 References & User
Services Quarterly article summarized several specific print and internet information sources
targeting caregivers (e.g. a book entitled Should Mom Be Left Alone? Should Dad Be Driving?
Your Q & A Companion for Caregiving). The columnist prefaced her list of recommendations
with a brief discussion of why such resources are important.
As we have cared for my parents, however, there are times when we have not
known where to turn for information assistance. Even though we have wanted
to provide the best for our parents, the right decision has not always been apparent.
(McCallips 191)
While the article is not specifically targeting librarians building seniors’ collections, including
such resources in the Senior Center collection will be beneficial in several ways. In the case of a
spouse caring for her husband or his wife, literature and other media addressing these issues
would do well in being included in the seniors’ special collection since they may find themselves
there anyway. Secondly, an older person having a caregiver does not necessarily imply
immobility, though escorts are often relied upon when seniors go on outings. Caregivers
escorting elderly people to visits to the library may be delighted and relieved to find resources
with them in mind among the collection that their charges are already browsing.
V.
Community Collaboration and Outreach Efforts
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Local community and professional partnerships can make all the difference when it
comes to adding value to the standard resources offered by local libraries. Senior Center
librarians and staff should foster existing relationships with the local council on aging, agencies
such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), community groups, nursing
homes, houses of worship, schools, businesses, charities, and non-profit organizations (e.g.
United Way), and be enthusiastic about creating new collaborations in the interest of serving
older adults (Prasad 105).
A fine example of a program made possible by local partnerships is Books-to-Go, in
which local libraries supply seniors residing in nursing homes, senior centers, and adult day care
centers with reading and viewing material; Brooklyn’s Public Library, which is included on with
the list of “Mode Programs” in the ALA’s “Keys” guide utilizes this service. A partnership
between the West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (WCFAAA) and public libraries
covering four Florida counties is another exemplary example. The alliance was established to
facilitate easy access to information on government programs like Medicare for older adults via
an 800 number or a web-based service. Phones and the online reference tool are manned by an
Information and Referral Specialist who offers walk-through assistance with retrieving the
information sought on the Web or over the phone. When a public library in the coverage area
receives calls from seniors with these sorts of questions, the librarians and staff acts as the
catalyst between the interested party and the hotline, directing older people to the WCFAAA
service (Cottle 16-17).
VI.
User Feedback, Collection Evaluation, and Deselection
All of the above recommendations and suggestions for the Senior Center’s collections
and resources in general should be subject to change if and when they are not supported by
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patron surveys and reference interviews—all of which should be collected and recorded on a
regular basis by librarians and staff—about what they want in their library (Prasad 107; Ahlvers
308). Some patrons have a difficult time articulating their likes and dislikes during reference
interviews and general Q&A with librarians. However, informal discussions about a patron’s
hobbies, thoughts on current events, and other seemingly unrelated topics can reveal a great deal
about what he or she would likely enjoy (Ahlvers 308) and should be noted. This sort of client
centered approach is recommended in much of the research on senior collection building.
Indeed, given their ages and extensive life experiences, this is not a group that will take kindly to
being told by librarians, critics, or anyone else what they should and should not enjoy. As a
certain library science scholar once suggested, give ‘em what they want (Ahlvers 310; Prasad
107; Rawlinson 2188)!
The Senior Center librarian in turn is advised to create a regular collection review
schedule. Since the library is small, it is recommended that comprehensive evaluations of the
physical collection, the Senior Central web portal design (content should be updated on an asneed basis, either weekly or monthly), and all in-house services and programs are completed at
least yearly. Ongoing informal evaluation and review is also strongly recommended. To borrow
from the Pikes Peak Library District (Colorado Springs, CO) collection development policy,
their “collection receives ongoing review in order to maintain its relevancy and physical
condition.” When the decision is made to remove items from the collection, it is recommended
that a donation arrangement be made with a Friends of the Library representative or an
equivalent.
As is standard with most collection policies, a survey form should be kept on file for
patron deselection requests so patrons can specifically express why they believe a certain item or
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items should not have a place in the Senior Center’s collection. If the patron is unable or
unwilling to put their reasons in writing, the Senior Center librarian or a staff member should
offer to fill in a form on the patron’s behalf via in-person or telephone dictation. That being said,
a commitment to intellectual freedom per the ALA Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read and
Freedom to View Statements (see web transcriptions) should be firm in all libraries and thus
should be kept in mind when deselection requests are submitted.
VII.
Gifts of Library Materials
It is recommended that the Senior Center use the same language in the their collection policy
regarding gifts as the Washoe County Library System’s own collection policy; it states that gifts
are welcome but will be held to the same standards of quality and propriety as those of purchased
collection materials.
VIII.
Bibliography
Ahlvers, A. (2006). Older Adults and Readers’ Advisory. Reference and User
Services Quarterly, 45(4), 305-312.
American Library Association Freedom to Read Statement. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstate
ment.cfm
American Library Association Freedom to View Statement. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/ftvstatement/freedomviewstate
ment.cfm
American Library Association Grants Resource Page. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/grants/
American Library Association “Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ Your Library.” Accessed July
2, 2010. http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/olos/toolkits/olderadults.cfm
American Library Association Library Bill of Rights. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://staging.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/statementspols/statementsif/librarybillrights.
cfm
Association for Specialized Collections and Library Agencies. Accessed July 8, 2010.
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http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/ascla/asclaprotools/accessibilitytipsheets/default.cfm
BiFolkal Productions Inc. Accessed July 8, 2010. http://www.bifolkal.org/index.html
Brooklyn Public Library Service to the Aging. Accessed July 9, 2010.
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/seniors/services.jsp
Canadian Guidelines on Library and Information Services for Older Adults (©2009). Accessed
July 3, 2010.
http://www.cla.ca/Content/NavigationMenu/Resources/PositionStatements/OlderAdultsre
vsept09.pdf
Caption First. Accessed July 8, 2010. http://www.captionfirst.com/
Cotter, C. (2008). Cornucopia of Services for Seniors: WCFAAA and Public Libraries Form
Partnership to Benefit Seniors. Florida Libraries, 51(2), 16-17.
Crawford, W. (2003). Thinking About Complex Media. American Libraries, 34(10), 59.
Library Service to an Aging Population Committee of the Reference Services Section of the
Reference & User Services Association of the American Library Association. (2008).
Guide for Library and Information Services to Older Adults. Reference and User
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Library Services to the Spanish-Speaking Committee, Reference Services Section of
the Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association. (2007).
Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of Multilingual Collections and Services.
Reference and User Services Quarterly, 47(2), 198-200.
McCallips, C. (2006). Eldercare and Caregivers: Building a Basic Collection. Reference and
User Services Quarterly, 45(3), 190-199.
Mayo, K. (2004). The Public Library As A Community Programming Resource. BiFolkal
Productions Inc. Accessed July 8, 2010.
http://www.bifolkal.org/pdfs/Mayo.PL%20program%20resource.pdf
Nasmith, W. and Parkinson, M. (2008). Senior Citizens Embrace Change and Make a New
Technology Work for Them. The Electronic Library, 26(5), 673-682.
Peters, T and Bell, L. (2006). Hello IM, Goodbye TTY. Computers in Libraries, 26(5), 18-21.
Piper D., Palmer S., and Xie B. (2009). Services to Older Adults: Preliminary Findings
from Three Maryland Public Libraries. Journal of Education for Library and Information
Science, 50(2), 107-118.
Prasad, P. (2009). Reference Services to Senior Groups in the San Antonio Public Library. The
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Reference Librarian, 50(1), 99-108.
Rawlinson, N. (1981). Give `Em What They Want! Library Journal, 106(20), 2188-2190.
Robbins, S.J. (2009). Large Print Finds Its Mark. Publishers Weekly, 256(20), 26, 28-30.
Robertson, G. (2006). Finance, Felines, and Figuring It All Out: Utilitarian Reading for Seniors.
Feliciter, 52(2), 76-78.
Robertson, G. (2006). Leisure Reading for Seniors: Sorting Out Tastes and Topics. Feliciter,
52(1), 24-26.
Taylor, J.M. (2004). Serving Blind Readers in a Digital Age. American Libraries, 35(11), 49-51.
Washoe County Library System Collection Development and Management Policy. Accessed
July 2, 2010. http://www.washoecounty.us/repository/files/8/coll_dev_2010.pdf
Washoe County Library System Senior Central. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://www.washoecounty.us/library/seniors.html
Washoe County, Nevada Demographics. Accessed July 2, 2010.
http://www.nvenergy.com/economicdevelopment/county/washoe/demographics.cfm
Xie, B. and Bugg, J. (2009). Public Library Computer Training for Older Adults to Access Highquality Internet Health Information. Library & Information Science Research, 31, 155162.
Zabel, D. (1999). Look Who’s Fifty: Building a Collection for Your Aging Baby Boomers.
Reference and User Services Quarterly. 39(2), 128-135.
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