One Library's Mission to Provide Its Senior Community with Social Engagement and Emotional Connectedness

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

Public libraries are all about creating an uplifting environment of connection and support. When COVID struck in 2020, and our traditional ways of engaging with patrons became unsafe, it was nearly impossible for the North Canton (Ohio) Public Library (NCPL) to maintain those important relationships with older adults in our community. The city of North Canton did not have a dedicated senior center, and other senior programming opportunities had been cut due to the pandemic. As a result, senior residents were feeling isolated. In this on-demand webinar, learn how NCPL partnered with the city to reduce social isolation and increase connectedness for this vulnerable population. Almost three years later, the library’s senior programs continue to thrive and make a real impact, with attendees noting that the programs “make them look forward to each day now.” Learn how strategic partnerships can help your outreach initiatives make an impact too!

Originally presented January 8, 2025.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify potential partnerships within their own communities that could lend themselves to similar outreach opportunities;
• Understand the emotional and social needs of older adults (ages 55+), especially in a post-COVID society; and
• Build a list of local potential partner agencies with whom their libraries could connect for similar programming opportunities for older adults. 

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar is intended for library directors and administrators, library managers who oversee programming for adults or outreach services, and library staff who facilitate programming for adults or outreach services.

Panelists

Andrea Legg (she/her) has been honored to work in public libraries since 2007. She’s always learning and trying to grow, but she's done the most work with collection analysis, alternative funding strategies, strategic planning, marketing, and development of staff over the last sixteen years. She is currently the director at the North Canton Public Library in northeast Ohio.

Christina Weyrick (she/her) is an optimistic visionary and experienced non-profit professional specializing in strategic outreach, marketing, development, team building, and event execution. Much of her recent experience is centered around building collaborative partnerships, board/committee development, organizational structure and communication, branding, copywriting, and increasing outreach. Christina also uses her event management and advocacy background extensively in her current role as community relations manager at the North Canton Public Library. She has a strong history in leading volunteer programs, fostering relationships, and building strong teams.

Amber Ollis’ (she/her) work and education have taken her around the world (literally), but she’s made her home in North Canton and has fully embraced her role as community engagement librarian at the North Canton Public Library—a job that could, on any given day, find her facilitating senior programs, delivering library materials to nursing home residents, connecting new parents with essential resources, and even fostering friendships between humans and hedgehogs. Her diligence and creativity have been essential in the success of the NCPL’s senior program initiatives.

Important Registration Information

Log into or create your ALA eLearning account

An ALA eLearning account is required to register. Don’t have an account? Create one for free by going to the “Log in” menu located at the top right corner of your screen. No membership is required to create the account. If you encounter any issues registering for this webinar, then please email ce@ala.org for assistance.

Redeem your signup code to complete your registration

Once you’ve registered for this on-demand webinar, a signup code will be added to your ALA eLearning account and emailed to you. Find the signup code on your signup code page, then redeem it on your account’s dashboard to complete your enrollment in this on-demand webinar.

• Need to purchase registration on behalf of a colleague?
• Need to register a group of 3 or more?
• Need to register with a purchase order?

Review the ALA eLearning FAQ if you need more information.

Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).