Mom’s assisted living community had a library for residents. It was an inviting space with a gas fireplace, easy chairs, and a coffee table.
It was well organized too. Fiction titles were marked with the first three letters of the author’s last name. Nonfiction was organized by the Dewey Decimal System.
One day I noticed the library was overflowing with books, so I volunteered to work on it. To make room, I pulled out duplicates, books with tiny type, and titles on obscure topics. I found a different home for the coffee table books. And I labeled everything.
At first it was going to be a project Mom and I would work on together. She lost interest after the first day, so I worked on it while she napped.
Here are some tips for managing libraries in assisted living communities:
Identify a resident, staff member, or volunteer who will commit to maintaining the library.
Don't be afraid to pull donated books that won't be read. You can donate them to your local Friends of the Public Library.
Surveys indicate that seniors prefer to read light romance, biographies, westerns, mysteries, travel, and newspapers. Don't allow the library to be a dumping ground for dated textbooks or titles on fringe politics.
You don't need a check-out system. Most likely, you'll have more books than you need; it doesn't matter if any given book isn't returned.
See if there's interest among residents in starting a book group. This can be a fun way to encourage reading and socializing.
Another Reading Opportunity: Learn about shared reading in assisted living
Thank you for the suggestions!