Adult Library Services

Adult services is a wide-ranging area of library work. Your community of users - the ones you have, the ones you will have, and the ones you can have - will differ from one library to the next and one year to the next.

Below are some broad topics under which there are resources for learning about some adults and how to meet some of their needs relevant to those themes. However, every adult has one thing in common: Their needs, wants, and experiences will fall into multiple of those categories.

For news, resources, and trends in adult services, visit Colorado Virtual Library or subscribe to email alerts for new posts.

Adult Services Topics

Community's Needs

Programming

Aging and
Older Adults

Workforce and Jobs

Taxes and
Financial Health

Health and Wellness

Adult Literacy
and Education

Books and Reader's Advisory

Overdose Prevention

"How do I figure out what my community wants or needs?"

Programming

Resources and Ideas

Programming Librarian
Program Spotlight
Resource kits from Colorado State Library

Program Evaluation

Project Outcome - Free evaluation toolkit for gathering survey data from programs to help libraries see what's working, what isn't, and learn what programs your community wants
Evaluating Library Programming workbook from the Connected Learning Alliance

Research and Reports

Publications from National Impact of Library Public Programs Assessment

Aging and Older Adults

Agencies and Organizations

Colorado Commission on Aging (CCOA)
Area Agency on Aging (Denver Regional Council on Governments, DRCOG)
National Council on Aging (NCOA)
- Benefits participation by state and county (interactive map)
Next 50 Foundation
AARP Colorado
National Institute on Aging
- Publications (order print, download PDF)

Programs

Fall Prevention Programs Demographics & Outcomes Infographics
Fall Prevention Awareness Week Toolkit
Programs for health and wellness:
- Geri-Fit - Learn more about Geri-Fit at libraries
- Ageless Grace
- Senior Planet - Virtual live free programming for lifelong learning and physical wellness
Social Engagement Innovations Hub (from EngAGED)

Memory Care

Memory Cafe Directory
Time Slips
MEternally (Memory games and reminiscence kits)
Reading2Connect (Reading materials and program)
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Resource Map (2-1-1 Colorado)
Talk About Dementia (from CDPHE)

Research and Reports

Colorado Aging Framework: A Guide for Policymakers, Providers, and Others for Aging Well in Colorado
Resources for the Colorado Agencies on Aging
Creative Aging Resource (from Lifetime Arts Creative Aging)

Workforce, Job and Career Development

My Colorado Journey
My Colorado Journey for Libraries Flyer (PDF)
Colorado Apprenticeships Directory
Colorado Workforce Centers
Career Coaching Collaborative (virtual career coaching)

Taxes and Financial Health

Tax Resources Flyer for Colorado Libraries (PDF)
Active Colorado VITA Sites (updated 03/29/2023)
Get Ahead Colorado Partner Toolkit

Health and Wellness

Active Living and Healthy Community Resources

Agencies and Organizations

Research and Reports

Colorado Health Information Dataset (CoHID)
Healthy People 2030
Colorado's 2024 Public Health and Environment Improvement Plan
Center for Health and Environmental Data
- Long list of public health data collection sites and dashboards

Adult Literacy and Education

Books and Other Materials for Adult Literacy

New Readers Press (publisher, vendor)
News for You (subscription)
Townsend Press, Basic Skills/ ESL (publisher, vendor)
Grassroots Press (publisher, vendor)
Gemma Hi-Lo Books (publisher, vendor)
English for Everyone (printable worksheets)
Ultimate Phonics (subscription)
Aztec (software)
Ellii (curriculum, subscription)

Tutor Training/ Adult Literacy Education

ProLiteracy's Education Network
- Online resources and tools for tutors
Spring Institute - Adult Education & Career Pathways
- Colorado-based Spring Institute can provide training for library staff
Intercambio
- Online tutor training for volunteers and staff
Partners in Reading from San Jose Public Library
- YouTube playlist of tutor training and best practices videos
Tutor Ready Writing from California State Library
- YouTube playlist of tutor training and best practices videos

Colorado-Based Resources

Literacy Colorado
- Class Provider List and Map

National Resources

Research and Reports

Literacy Gap Map
US Skills Map: State and County Indicators of Adult Literacy and Numeracy (PIAAC)
State of Literacy in Delaware, Delaware Literacy Alliance Plan - Link to report which includes national data and trends.

Books and Readers Advisory

Net Galley - Use your work email and get librarian access to Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of upcoming titles.
Colorado Humanities and Center for the Book
- Volunteer as a judge or selector for the annual Colorado Book Awards.

One Book or Common Read Programs

Big Read - From National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Big Read offers libraries opportunities for grant funding of a common read program for your communities.

Readers Advisory Resources

Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction

Opioids: Training and Information

Opioid Overdose Response Training (30-minute course)
Narcan Training Video (English, 4-minute video)
Narcan Training Video (Spanish, 5-minute video)
Where to Find Naloxone (Colorado Map, public use)
Drug Overdose Informational Resources
Fentanyl Test Strips Information (Center for Disease Control)
Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries (Word doc, from OCLC)

Prescription Medication Safety

Household Medication Take-back Program and Safe Disposal
- Toolkit (Google Drive) including videos, social media copy and graphics, and posters
Take Meds Seriously (prescription drug safe use, safe storage, safe disposal)

Agencies and Organizations

Community Engagement Map/ Contacts from Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
Naloxone Standing Orders from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)

Research and Reports

Colorado Drug Overdose Statistics (CDPHE)
- See "Drug Overdose Deaths..." and "Nonfatal Drug Overdose Emergency Department and Hospitalization Data"
Data and reports from State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS)
National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- See "State Level Estimates" beneath the "Reports" heading to find Colorado facts and figures
National Vital Statistics System: Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (CDC)

Adult Library Services Consultant

Cristy Moran (she/ her/ ella) is the Adult Library Services Senior Consultant at the Colorado State Library and is eager to consult with and support you in program development and facilitation, outreach, finding resources, assessment and evaluation, and collaborating with community partners. She is a librarian, an educator, an instructional designer, and an information literacy specialist who has worked in libraries and education for over 15 years. In supporting all Colorado libraries (including public, academic, and special libraries), Cristy's role can best be described as the adult services librarian’s librarian for Colorado.