Have you been to a library recently?
If not you will be amazed to learn that libraries are not just big buildings full of books to take out and bring back. Our North Shore libraries offer seniors, families, teens, and children a surprising array of programs and services. Libraries are a great place to visit, sit and read, borrow a daily newspaper, watch a movie, go to a special program, go online and catch up on email, arrange a special service and, oh yes, borrow books, DVDs and CDs.
The North Shore library system includes the District of North Vancouver Libraries at Parkgate, Lynn Valley and Edgemont, the District of West Vancouver Memorial Library, and the City of North Vancouver Library.
At each library there are special programs and services for seniors, including home-delivery services, large print books, audiobooks, and in the case of the city library: seniors gatherings. At each library there is usually someone assigned to seniors and their particular interests.
While visiting West Vancouver Memorial Library I visited the Assistive Library Services program and met Jean, an intrepid library user. Jean, who turned 101 in June, uses the special services of the library including a Daisy Player for hearing books (Jean doesn’t see as well as she used to).
A life-long learner, Jean continues to need the Daisy Player because she intends to learn French, a skill she gained and lost over time.
A Daisy is a type of audiobook that requires a special playback machine known as a Daisy Player. Margarete Wiedmann, City of North Vancouver special services co-ordinator, says, “The Daisy Player is known as the Fischer Price Machine for adults, but they are used specifically for people with a print disability or a person who cannot easily hold a book.”
In addition to being in charge of the Restricted Audio Book Collection, Wiedmann hosts the Home Services Programs, co-ordinates the Seniors Gathering and hosts the City Seniors Action Table.
The Seniors Gathering is a drop-in program for presentations, coffee, cookies and chats.
The Seniors Action Table meets to talk about age-friendly priorities to make the City of North Vancouver safer and more accessible for seniors. The Seniors Gathering and Seniors Action Table are hosting a presentation on July 11 at the city library called “Seniors on the Go” in which a panel of four speakers will talk about work that’s being done to make the city a better and safer place in which to get around.
The Home Services program of the City of North Vancouver Library is for seniors and those with a disability who cannot go to the library, so the library goes to them. If you live in the city, there is a regular delivery of paperbacks, hardbacks, large print and audio. You can connect to this program by calling 604-998-3460.
A similar service is available at the district libraries. West Vancouver’s Assistive Library Services brings the Library to you through a family member, friend or one of their volunteers who delivers your pick of books, audiobooks, magazines, CDs and DVDs, preloaded Kindles and cassettes.
They also have a Talking Book Program for those with a visual, physical or cognitive disability. Call the Assistive Library Services librarian Kelly Baily at 604-925-7437 for more details.
In addition to the Home Services program, the District of North Vancouver hosts a program called Library Afternoons. This is a program in which there are scheduled monthly Library Afternoons on Wednesdays and Thursdays to bring books to homebound residents at a number of seniors residences.
As Heather Goodwin, Home Service librarian says, “We deliver a mini library to go. It is an adaptive service that can start in a senior’s home and follow them as their living circumstances change to where a senior needs a more caring environment.”
For more information about this program and the Home Services program, call Goodwin at 604-990-5800.
While most of the libraries do not have a seniors space, at the West Vancouver Memorial Library a newly designed and renovated area was built and furnished with input from older patrons.
Other libraries keep their collection of large print books and audio cassettes in specific areas set up with seniors in mind.
Lynn Brockington, community experience co-ordinator at the West Vancouver Memorial Library has observed that by working a library visit into their routine seniors make the library a focus of their day or week. This, she thinks, keeps people young and engaged.
If you haven’t been to a library in a while try a visit. You’ll be glad you did.
Margaret Coates is the co-ordinator of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society. She has lived on the North Shore for 47 years and has worked for and with seniors for 20 of those years. Ideas for future columns are welcome Email: [email protected].
