What is Transforming Life After 50?

As stewards of lifelong learning, public libraries are ideally positioned to become cornerstone institutions for Boomers and productive aging. However, research has shown that current library services for “seniors” do not match the characteristics or interests of the Boomer cohort. The Transforming Life After 50 (TLA50) initiative, undertaken by the California State Library, was designed to help libraries better serve and engage Boomers by positioning libraries as catalysts, resources, meeting places, and partners in creating opportunities for Boomers to teach, to learn, to build new skills, to lead, to re-career, and to become civically-engaged.

A Library Field Survey (pdf) was administered in fall 2007 and 230 California libraries submitted responses. 65% of respondents said Boomers were an “important” segment to their library but only 6% had specific programs or plans in place to address this Boomer population. Based on these survey findings, the TLA50 initiative was launched beginning with a 3-day TLA50 training institute (pdf) designed to create a common understanding of how the size, history and significance of the Boomer cohort, along with their extended life spans, will impact aging in America. Emphasis was given to the importance of envisioning an alternative to the predominant deficit-based model of aging.

Eighty-eight participants (pdf), representing 44 California library jurisdictions, attended the institute. Leaders from the fields of health, education, social science, spirituality and aging were brought together to introduce library staff to a new framework and new strategies for working with active, older adults. Training in community assessment was also provided.

Following the institute, participating libraries were encouraged to undertake community assessments of their own local Boomer populations. Based on these assessments, libraries were then eligible to submit targeted grant proposals to address the opportunities and needs identified in their assessments. Twenty-four proposals were selected for 2008/09 LSTA funding. The funded proposals will enable library jurisdictions to implement promising practices, test and refine models, help disseminate models, and mentor other library staff. Based on lessons learned from these grants, the TLAF50 initiative will continue to develop and evolve.

All the presentations and tools from the TLA50 training institute are available on this Web site. Additional promising practices, cool ideas, and practical tools are highlighted on this Web site and represent the pioneering work of the 2008/09 funded libraries.