Project+research

As this project progresses we will be collecting information from various sources within the library and council networks. At the December 14th meeting we discussed how best to arrange all the ideas we had and decided on 5 focus areas--
 * Programmes, Services, Collections, Facilities and Outreach**.

In an attempt to define actually **who the older adults** we are considering were we divided them into 3 age groups. 45- 60 ; 60 - 80, and 80 +. At a later meeting we decided on descriptive groups **fully mobile**; **partially mobile** ( use scooters etc) and **dependant (** includes those with visual impairments). The age range grouping does not equate to the descriptive range!

Age seemed an easy way to divide the group up as many within the older age groups may be more independent, more savvy and more healthy than those in the younger ones. An 88 year old who still attends walking groups, drives oldies to meetings and is a competent computer user may not appreciate being put in the same user group as a frail 79 year old in a nursing home. There is a large amount of crossover in the needs of the different groups and in the ways they use what the library and council can provide for them. The mobility descriptive grouping seems to allow us to include all aspects of how we support customers so is the current method of dividing the groups.

On the pages linked below we have isolated the separate focus areas and the ways the different age groups/ mobility groups use resources with that focus.

The Project team have chosen a focus and will be contacting people they think can help them as we build up a picture of exactly how these older aged customers use the library and related council services. We welcome input from library staff at any level. A real brain storm and some good lateral thinking.

**Research focus areas**
Collections Facilities Programmes Outreach Services