Senior Spaces designed for older library-goers MICHAEL ACKER Patrons sit and read in the Old Bridge Public Library's newly designated Senior Spaces. The space boasts gathering areas, books relevant to seniors, a listening station with a phonograph and a memory case that displays historical items. OLD BRIDGE - The township's library has embarked on a yearlong project to turn a little-used portion of the facility into a section called Senior Spaces. The project was conceived as part of the library's developing Strategic Plan by Assistant Library Director Allan M. Kleiman, who is known for his longtime work with library services for older adults and the baby boomers. Senior Spaces, which opened this month, allows patrons to sit on new furniture and chat, watch television, listen to music (including old records), view a movie, drink a cup of coffee or surf the Internet. The area also features books and other materials specially selected for these age groups, and items not ordinarily found on other library shelves, as well as new adaptive equipment and computer software for those with visual impairments. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and conference featuring Betty Turock, professor emeritus at the School of Library and Information Studies, Rutgers University, and state Assemblyman Samuel D. Thompson, was held June 8. "What is different about this project is that we will be developing programs and services for all three generations of older adults - the baby boomers not yet retired, older adults who have retired in the last few years, and the elderly, many who can no longer get to the library," Kleiman said. "We actually are building this space and the program from the bottom up." Besides using its own resources, the library has begun to develop funding partners for the project. The first partner is Infolink, the Eastern New Jersey Regional Library Cooperative that serves over 900 multitype libraries in Hudson, Essex, Union and Middlesex counties. The library was awarded a $10,000 grant for an incubator project contract in November 2006. "The next phase of the project will be happening in the fall," Kleiman said, "when we open our Senior Learning Space. The classroom space will allow the library to have a dedicated area to feature computer classes, lectures, small group discussions, writing classes, programs on health, wellness, retirement, financial security, history, culture and more. "We've already developed some local and national partners for this phase, including Raritan Bay Medical Center and Seniornet," Kleiman said. The entire project will be documented through the use of a Senior Spaces blog at www.seniorspaces.blogspot.com and Flickr pictures at: www.flickr.com/photos/seniorspaces. Additional information, progress reports and a how-to-do-it tool kit will be available on the library's Web site at www.oldbridgelibrary.org. Library Director Margie Cyr is hoping the community will become involved with the new addition via the Senior Spaces Advisory Board, which will provide input to library staff on programs, activities and services. The plan is to develop a board of 9 members that will meet on a monthly basis. "This idea of a Senior Spaces Advisory Board is one that mirrors our already successful Teen Advisory Board," Kleiman said. "With community involvement in our library, everything we do becomes a success." The board's first meeting will take place during July to assist library staff in planning programs for the fall. Library officials hope to choose members who represent all areas of Old Bridge and be representative of the township's diversity. Residents interested in volunteering for the new advisory board can call Allen Kleiman at (732) 721-5600, ext. 5042, write to him at Old Bridge Public Library, 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Municipal Center, Old Bridge 08857, or e-mail him at akleiman@oldbridgelibrary.org.