Outreach Services for Older Adults at the Wadsworth Public Library.

This paper reports on a study conducted to assist the Wadsworth Public Library in future planning and refining of services to older adults especially in library outreach. A questionnaire was distributed to residents (n=350) of one nursing home, four apartment complexes for seniors, one assisted living complex, one senior center, and any patrons already receiving home delivery book service from the outreach librarian. The questionnaire distributed was designed to make the older adults aware of the services now provided by the library; to discover which of those services were being used and why; to be aware of what types of books, video cassettes, and audio cassettes older adults like; to discover how the outreach staff of the library are regarded by the older adults; and to find out what other outreach services the older adults want. The return rate was 18% (68). Findings are discussed and presented in 15 tables. The top fiction preferences for women were: romance, 27%, mystery, 26%; and historical fiction, 23%. The top non-fiction preferences for women were: biography, 20%; history, 18%; and travel, 16%. Top fiction preferences for men were: western fiction, 29%; mystery, 29%; and historical fiction and romance, 19%. The romance was a surprise. The top non-fiction preferences for men were: travel, 24%; fine arts, 12%; and biography, 12%. Two versions of the cover letter and a copy of the three-page questionnaire are appended. Contains 21 references. (Author/DLS)