The Transforming Life After 50 initiative aims to inspire library innovation that is responsive to the changing nature of adult aging in America. Change offers great opportunities for progressive, innovative libraries. However, change can be challenging for libraries whose structure and management is geared towards maintaining current practices rather than supporting innovation. And supporting innovation takes more than just the desire to be innovative. By highlighting cool ideas and promising practices while also providing practical tools and lessons learned by the current TLA50 libraries, hopefully other public libraries will be inspired to consider their own innovative responses that will enable them to become true cornerstone organizations of productive aging.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY COMING IN 2010

Interested library staff from California, Idaho, Oregon and Wahington are invited to apply for a year long learning Fellowship related to public libraries and Baby Boomers that will commence in July 2010. The Fellowship is designed to enable library professionals to create new models of engagement and deliver innovative services to the growing population of active, older adults. The Fellowship experience will commence with a webinar and facilitated blog discussion, followed by a 2 1/2 day learning institute in Portland, OR which will be further expanded upon via a 6-month facilitated online learning community.  Fellows will learn from current leaders and futurists in the fields of aging, health, social sciences, economics, lifelong learning and civic engagement as well as hear from library leaders who have been at the forefront of innovative library responses developed to date.   Up to 100 applicants will be accepted for this Fellowship.  Applications will be available on this website mid-January 2010.