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Adult Library Services
Adult services is a wide-ranging area of library work. Your community of users - the ones you have, the ones you will have, and the ones you can have - will differ from one library to the next and one year to the next.
Below are some broad topics under which there are resources for learning about some adults and how to meet some of their needs relevant to those themes. However, every adult has one thing in common: Their needs, wants, and experiences will fall into multiple of those categories.
For news, resources, and trends in adult services, visit Colorado Virtual Library or subscribe to email alerts for new posts.
Adult Services Topics
"How do I figure out what my community wants or needs?"
Population data
- County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Colorado (interactive map and data sets)
- State Demography Office dashboard
- American Community Survey (ACS)
- Learn more at the Discovering the ACS mini-course
- 5-Year ACS Colorado Interactive Map
- US Census Bureau data tables dashboard
Community Dialogues
Research and Reports
Programming
Resources and Ideas
- Programming Librarian
- Program Spotlight
- Resource kits from Colorado State Library
Program Evaluation
- Project Outcome - Free evaluation toolkit for gathering survey data from programs to help libraries see what's working, what isn't, and learn what programs your community wants
- Evaluating Library Programming workbook from the Connected Learning Alliance
Research and Reports
Aging and Older Adults
Agencies and Organizations
- Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA)
- Area Agency on Aging (Denver Regional Council on Governments, DRCOG)
- National Council on Aging (NCOA)
- Next 50 Foundation
- AARP Colorado
- National Institute on Aging
- Publications (order print, download PDF)
Programs
- Fall Prevention Programs Demographics & Outcomes Infographics
- Fall Prevention Awareness Week Toolkit
- Programs for health and wellness:
- Geri-Fit - Learn more about Geri-Fit at libraries
- Ageless Grace
- Senior Planet - Virtual live free programming for lifelong learning and physical wellness
Memory Care
Research and Reports
- Colorado Aging Framework: A Guide for Policymakers, Providers, and Others for Aging Well in Colorado
- Resources for the Colorado Agencies on Aging
Workforce, Job and Career Development
- My Colorado Journey
- My Colorado Journey for Libraries Flyer (PDF)
- Colorado Apprenticeships Directory
- Colorado Workforce Centers
- Career Coaching Collaborative (virtual career coaching)
Taxes and Financial Health
- Active Colorado VITA Sites (updated 03/29/2023)
- Get Ahead Colorado Partner Toolkit
Health and Wellness
Active Living and Healthy Community Resources
Agencies and Organizations
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
- CO PHPR Collab (Colorado Public Health and Parks and Recreation Collaborative)
- Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)
Research and Reports
Adult Literacy and Education
Books and Other Materials for Adult Literacy
- New Readers Press (publisher, vendor)
- News for You (subscription)
- Townsend Press, Basic Skills/ ESL (publisher, vendor)
- English for Everyone (printable worksheets)
- Ultimate Phonics (subscription)
- Aztec (software)
Colorado-Based Resources
- Literacy Colorado
- Spring Institute - Adult Education & Career Pathways
- Spring Institute can provide training for library staff
- Intercambio
- Tutor training for volunteers and staff
National Resources
- All In Literacy
- Establishing an Adult Literacy Program (Community Tool Box from University of Kansas)
- Project Literacy
- Literacy Minnesota
- National Literacy Directory
Population Data
Books and Readers Advisory
- Net Galley - Use your work email and get librarian access to Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of upcoming titles.
- Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book
- Volunteer as a judge or selector for the annual Colorado Book Awards.
One Book or Common Read Programs
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Big Read - From National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Big Read offers libraries opportunities for grant funding of a common read program for your communities.
Readers Advisory Resources
Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction
Opioids: Training and Information
- Opioid Overdose Response Training (30-minute course)
- Narcan Training Video (English, 4-minute video)
- Narcan Training Video (Spanish, 5-minute video)
- Where to Find Naloxone (Colorado Map, public use)
- Drug Overdose Informational Resources
- Fentanyl Test Strips Information (Center for Disease Control)
- Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries (Word doc, from OCLC)
Prescription Medication Safety
- Household Medication Take-back Program and Safe Disposal
- Toolkit (Google Drive) including videos, social media copy and graphics, and posters
- Take Meds Seriously (prescription drug safe use, safe storage, safe disposal)
Agencies and Organizations
- Community Engagement Map/ Contacts from Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
- Naloxone Standing Orders from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
Adult Library Services Consultant
Cristy Moran (she/ her/ ella) is the Adult Library Services Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library and is eager to consult with and support you in program development and facilitation, outreach, finding resources, assessment and evaluation, and collaborating with community partners. She is a librarian, an educator, an instructional designer, and an information literacy specialist who has worked in libraries and education for over 15 years. In supporting all Colorado libraries (including public, academic, and special libraries), Cristy's role can best be described as the adult services librarian’s librarian for Colorado.
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