As stewards of lifelong learning, public libraries are ideally positioned to become cornerstone institutions for productive aging. However, research has shown that library services for “seniors” do not match the characteristics or interests of midlife adults, ages 50+. These adults, many of whom are Baby Boomers, are experiencing a new, extended stage of midlife due to significant increases in longevity. This lengthening of the human life span will have profound effects not only for Baby Boomers but for generations to come, and the implications for libraries and other cultural institutions will be equally profound.  

The Transforming Life After 50 (TLA50) initiative, undertaken by the California State Library, was designed to help libraries better serve and engage midlife adults by positioning libraries as catalysts, resources, meeting places, and partners in creating opportunities for midlife adults to learn, teach, lead, build skills, re-career, and become civically-engaged.  A Library Field Survey (pdf) was administered in 2007 to which 230 libraries responsed. 65% of respondents said midlife adults were “important” to their library but only 6% had specific programs or plans in place to address this adult population. Based on these findings and a desire to help libraries better support this growing population, the TLA50 initiative was launched. 

The initiative began with a 3-day TLA50 training institute (pdf) designed to help libraries envision an alternative to the predominant deficit-based model of aging.  Eighty-eight participants (pdf), from 44 California libraries, attended the institute. They heard from leaders in the fields of health, education, social science, spirituality and aging who offered new strategies for working with active, older adults. Following the institute, participating libraries were encouraged to undertake community assessments of their local midlife adult populations. Based on these assessments, libraries were then eligible to apply for 2008/09 LSTA grants to address the identified opportunities and needs. Twenty-four libraries were award grants. Projects included new community collaborations, innovative volunteer opportunities, and inspiring new program models – all with significant results!  In 2009/10, the lessons learned from these funded libraries were then shared throughout the state at professional conferences and regional symposia.

Interest continued to grow, spreading beyond California. An interstate partnership led to the creation of the IMLS Western Regional Fellowship -- a year long continuing education opportunity for library staff to advance their skills related to improving services to and community engagement with older, midlife adults. We now have a growing community of innovative library leaders who are transforming the relationship between libraries and midlife adults. 

All the presentations and tools from this TLA50 initiative -- including  the promising practices and practical tools created by the 2008/09 funded libraries and the IMLS Fellowship – are available on this web site, and new resources are continually being added. We hope this web site can serve as a hub of information, ideas and collegial support for all library staff – whether already connecting with older adults in new and meaningful ways or hoping to find inspiration and strategies to start.

Join us and share in the conversations, insights and discoveries as we all continue to evolve our practice and thinking about the changing nature of aging.