ABSTRACT
Older adults comprise a diverse clientele who require opportunities for lifelong learning and leisure. Reference librarians can adapt existing services to serve the majority of patrons over the age of fifty. Patience, sensitivity, and flexibility are essential to effective interviewing. Information about issues of concern to older adults, including family relationships, health, death and dying, housing, legal and financial affairs, and leisure activities, can be gathered from selected, readily available sources. Reader’s advisory services, programming, and outreach activities should be focused to more effectively target older adult users. Adhering to common service philosophy based on lifelong learning and a commitment to provide equal service to all individuals will facilitate tailoring services to meet the needs of the older adult patron.
