Public Libraries Supported as Community Anchors for Positive and Creative Aging
Through the Advancing Creative Aging Through State Library Leadership Initiative (2023-2025), a total of 132 public and county library systems in Missouri and Wyoming will develop and/or expand arts education programs that improve the lives of older adults (55+). A total of 100 in-person and remote creative aging programs will serve up to 2,000 older adults in Wyoming and Missouri public libraries and build the case for long-term sustainability.
This three-year initiative is made possible through a partnership between Califa Group, Wyoming State Library, Missouri State Library, and Lifetime Arts. The project is generously supported by a $646,000 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and builds on IMLS’s longtime support of creative aging in libraries.
Lifetime Arts will train and coach up to 250 librarians and library programmers in creative aging program planning, design, marketing, implementation, and documentation. Additionally, Califa’s education and training branch, Infopeople, will introduce library workers to Creative Aging Foundations On Demand from Lifetime Arts, a free and self-paced online course for planning and developing programs and partnerships to support this important, cross-sector work. Nationally, thousands more libraries and their staff will benefit through networking opportunities and the dissemination of the course.
Training Dates & Details
In May 2023, Lifetime Arts delivered a total of four 6-hour in-person training sessions to library workers across four cities in Missouri and Wyoming. Each training cohort was guided through the Lifetime Arts Creative Aging Foundations Course. Together, we explored; the history and supporting research behind the creative aging field; inherent biases about aging; how to develop responsive programming that is inclusive, representative, and equitable; the importance of community partnerships; supporting the teaching artist; and how to plan, market, deliver, and sustain creative aging programming in their communities.
Missouri State Library In-Person Training for Library Workers
St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield
This cohort of library workers learned about best practices in in-person creative aging programming and some adaptations to online or other remote delivery programming, and exemplary creative aging library programs from around the country, including recent programs in WY libraries.
Wyoming State Library In-Person Training for Library Workers
Casper
Additionally, these library workers learned about best practices in in-person creative aging programming and exemplary creative aging library programs around the country as models for successful programming.
Past Webinars
Creativity and Connection: Engaging Older Adults Through the Arts Webinar
A FREE Webinar for Programming, Outreach, and Adult Services Staff in Public Libraries
In this webinar, creative aging experts from Lifetime Arts provided an overview of the creative aging arts education model and shared successful case stories from library workers in both urban and rural settings who have implemented programs and developed the necessary partnerships to support this important, cross-sector work. We also shared a “backstage” tour of Lifetime Arts’ newly released and free online course, Creative Aging Foundations On Demand, a self-paced guide which will enable you to design and deliver engaging programs for the older adults in the library where you work!
Project Orientation Webinar
During this 1-hour orientation webinar, Lifetime Arts and partners introduced themselves and the project, reviewed the timeline and components, and provided next steps on how to participate. You can access the webinar recording below.
