Oldest of the Boomers Turn 60 on Sunday!

Here are two articles from "USA Today," passed on from an ALA list:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-29-first-boomer_x.htm

And, they are seen as having disposable income:
http://usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-29-recruiting-retirees_x.htm?POE=click-refer

EqualAccess Libraries(tm) Overview

If you're thinking of applying for one of the upcoming EqualAccess grants from the MBLC, there's a great overview of the program on WebJunction: http://ea.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=11331

Lifelong Access Centers for Excellence and Innovation

I thought you might be interested in a news item I received yesterday from Americans for Libraries Council (ALC) / Libraries for the Future. See what three model libraries are doing to improve service to their active older adults: http://www.lff.org/documents/CentersforExcellenceandInnovation.pdf


The Boomers Are Coming!
Is your library ready to receive its share of the millions of near-retirement boomers searching for personal fulfillment, new learning, and other adventures? Hanging a sign for "seniors" won't work for this generation, who are more active and committed to continued work than traditional retirees. To help all libraries retool themselves for this new challenge and opportunity, ALC's Lifelong Access Libraries Initiative—funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies—is sharing and shaping resources and model programs.

This fall, ALC announced three Lifelong Access Centers for Excellence and Innovation, celebrating their creative work to redefine library services, collections, and spaces for active older adults. ALC congratulates:
- The New Haven (CT) Free Public Library
- The Phoenix (AZ) Public Library
- The Allegheny County (PA) Library System

"Becoming the Butterfly: A New Look at Retirement and Aging"

Chelmsford Public Library has a new film series beginning in February: http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/programs/programs/becoming_the_butterfly.html

For information contact Kathy Cryan-Hicks kcryanhic@mvlc.org

The Dallas Morning News, 12/11/2005

Ads Target Empty Nests, Full Wallets

Have you seen the Fidelity ad with Paul McCartney? Read about marketing to the boomers: http://boomerproject.com/news_dmn.html

"Upperbacks" - A New Publishing Format

From Nancy Alcorn:

"Upperback" - this is a new publishing format term to me. It is/will be appearing over the next five years .... Tailored to baby boomers, better quality and slightly larger print than pbks, and cheaper (about $9.95 each) than trade pbks.

Nancy found this:

Upperbacks: now the Brits want them too

The new trend towards larger size paperbacks that's slowly taking over mass-market outfits here in the US is spreading across the pond, according to an article in Reuters UK. The first publisher on board is Headline, which will introduce the "upperback" mass market version of Faye Kellerman's STRAIGHT INTO DARKNESS in January:

"We think the new format looks different enough to be appealing," said Kerr MacRae, deputy managing editor at Headline, which is owned by French media group Lagardere. They're easier to read the way the text is reset."

Headline plans to keep the cover price of its bigger-format thrillers the same as it is on smaller ones. "The short answer on how we'll make it profitable is that we'll need to sell more of them," said MacRae, who this week is at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the publishing industry's largest annual event.

"It's marginal cost," he added, "and we think retailers are excited about it."

EqualAccess Libraries(tm) Application Materials Are on the Way!

From Beth Wade at MBLC:

The Mass Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has partnered with Libraries for the Future (LFF) to institute the EqualAccess Libraries(tm) professional development program in Massachusetts.

EqualAccess is a three-year initiative, already successfully implemented in Arizona and Pennsylvania, whose purpose is to help public librarians assess, and in partnership with local organizations, address their community's most pressing needs. EqualAccess focuses on building librarians' community programming skills, expertise in youth, health, or lifelong programming, and ability to use technology to expand and enhance programs and services.

A cornerstone of the program is the four-day EqualAccess Libraries Institute, which provides libraries with the tools to become increasingly community-responsive centers of information and education.

The 2006 Massachusetts EqualAccess Libraries Institute will be held on March 13th, March 14th, April 25th, and May 31st at the Palmer Public Library in Palmer, MA. Participating libraries are encouraged to send two librarians to the Institute; smaller libraries with limited staff may send one librarian.

Each library will receive a $5000 EqualAccess Library grant as part of a special LSTA EqualAccess Library Initiative Program. Grantees will use funds to implement Youth, Lifelong, or Health Access programs. (The EqualAccess program is available for public libraries that have approved long range plans on file with the MBLC and are certified to receive State Aid to Public Libraries throughout the application and award process.)

Application materials will be sent to all public library directors in the state of MA and should arrive in the first week of January 2006; fifteen libraries will be chosen to participate in EqualAccess this year.

For more information about EqualAccess Libraries(tm), check out the EqualAccess website at <http://ea.webjunction.org/> , or contact the MA EqualAccess Program Manager: Eleanor Stafford @ Eleanor.Stafford@state.ma.us - or 1-800-952-7403, ext. 228.

White House Conference on Aging, Dec. 11-14

The White House Conference on Aging is underway in Washington, D.C. Delegates voted yesterday on their top 50 resolutions: http://www.whcoa.gov/about/resolutions/whcoa_voting_results.pdf

The Conference agenda is at: http://www.whcoa.gov/about/resolutions/Conference_Agenda.pdf

MassINC Roundtable Discussion

I attended the roundtable discussion this morning on MassINC's survey of boomers, "A Generation in Transition." I highly recommend that you take a look at some of the demographic findings, even if you only have time to read the executive summary. It is available online if you register http://www.massinc.org/index.php?id=453

Some points that I found interesting:

• 30% of the population of Mass. is in the boomer generation (defined as born between 1946-1964).
• 84% of them have lived in Mass. 20 years or more.
• 35% of them want to retire outside of Mass., creating a huge economic impact on the state.