Are you interested in reaching isolated customers or those who don’t currently use the library, and learning about best practices in this area? This session is for you! Speakers from Hamilton, Kingston, and Ottawa public libraries will discuss the strengths and challenges in their specialized services, including homebound/visiting library services, a mobile library at a community health centre, personalized readers’ advisory for older adults using a variety of high and low-tech tools, low-barrier cards to improve accessibility of library services, pop-up and outreach initiatives in unexpected places, from fairgrounds to senior’s homes to prisons. We will also briefly review what similar initiatives are happening at other libraries.
Outcomes:
Participants at this session will leave with concrete ideas about how to extend services beyond the four walls of a branch, particularly to isolated customers, older adults, or others experiencing barriers to library services. They will also gain insights into different ways libraries in Canada and further afield are managing and enhancing these services with community-led initiatives and personalized assistance.
