Older adults (50+), consumer technologies and libraries
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2019-0027 |
| Published date | 28 August 2019 |
| Pages | 1-4 |
| Date | 28 August 2019 |
| Author | Martin A. Kesselman |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Older adults (501), consumer technologies
and libraries
Martin A. Kesselman
Libraries have an important and integral
role to play in the introduction of
consumer technologies to the
communities they serve. In many
libraries, new technology librarian
positions, and in academic libraries,
science entrepreneurship librarians
positions, now exist, as well as
positions that focus on senior citizen
populations, those particularly in the
70-plus-year-old group who face the
greatest technology challenges, but
libraries can be important intermediaries
to provide outreach, programming and
education about consumer electronic
products for wellnessand other products
geared toward seniors and other
populations often underserved by other
professions. Even today, much of the
population is still unaware that the
library is so much more than a building
full of printedbooks and other media.
Libraries can showcase products and
applications for wellness, creativity,
work productivity, smart homes,
education and anyone wanting the
newest gadgets. The size of this role is
dependent on several factors: adequate
funding by a community and gifts,
being part of a large county library
system and grants that have been
obtained, often by the state library. Up
to now, other than gifts, the major grant
opportunities have been through the US
Institute for Museum and Library
Services (IMLS, this funding has been
affected by the current Trump
administration), and how well a library
is able to make use of human and other
resources that may exist, even by public
libraries with less funding. In many
cases, libraries generate economic
growth in the communities they serve,
particularly in developing countries.
Libraries have been leaders in
makerspaces and the Maker Faire
movement and create opportunities for
creativity and collaborations for users
through new technologies. There is no
reason that with knowledge libraries
cannot also provide technology-based
services and promotion of important
classes of consumer electronic products
geared to other user groups. Libraries
used to be only in the business of
providing content and they now also
empower users to create their own
content through new consumer
technologies. Libraries meet the needs
of individuals of all ages and skill levels
of electronic technologies, from
children and young adults to their
parents, seniors and families. Often it is
not about the technology or consumer
electronic product, it is about its
functionality as an enabler that meets an
important need.
Libraries focus on both authority and
awareness/education of resources in all
formats including consumer electronic
products, e-learning opportunities and
mobile apps. They curate products that
meet an advertised need, and those that
are personalized to specific individual
needs. Consumer electronic products are
introduced to community members
through programming within and outside
the physical library. To adequately
provide this service, libraries need
awareness of these products through
review samples, conferences, library
media and other existing channels of
promotion, such as news outlets,
personal computing magazines, and
similar publications. Through libraries,
vendors can reachthousands of potential
customers with their products, and for
vendors, this is basically a FREE
advertisingchannel.
Libraries and adults 50 and over
Every group of older adults has
different needs and these needs overlap
across all ages 50 and over, but all of
which can and are currently provided by
libraries. For the sake of generalization,
I have divided this group into three age
groups, those 50-65, 66-79 and those 80
and older. Again, these are arbitrary
groups that do not correlate with the
service needs of libraries for older
adults and senior citizens.
Ages 50-65: This group of adults are
still in the workplace often in senior-
level positions. To be competitive, they
must have a strong knowledge of
technology products and services
related to the workplace. This group is
often dealing with the greatest
challenges in their lives – becoming
empty nesters and then grandparents,
downsizing, dealing with elderly
parents, focusing on financial health and
future goals. Other than work, this
group has the greatest ability to pay for
new technologies, and are major
consumers of electronic products for
themselves, grandchildren and aging
parents. Some of these individuals in
preparing for retirement and possible
new careers might become involved in
one of many library-sponsored groups
such as one for entrepreneurs. Although
they may be quite technology-savvy, they
may not be information- or information
technology-literate in deciding which
products are best in meeting their needs
OUTSIDE of the workplace, such as
emerging areas of autonomous vehicles,
cryptocurrencies, 5G, new television and
entertainment technologies, connected
homes and interoperability of home
devices and the emergence of AI, deep
learning and big data.
Ages 65-79: This group includes new
retirees that hopefully have three stars in
alignment:health, wealth and time. They
have time for leisure,travel, hobbies and
opportunities for consulting and
volunteerism. Libraries can make use of
many of these adult professionals to help
kids and others with technology-related
products. Wellness and other consumer
electronic products that focus on quality-
of-life issues gain in importance. This
group has the greatest opportunity to
LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 6 2019, pp. 1-4, V
CEmerald Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-04-2019-0027 1
To continue reading
Request your trial