Services for Older Adults

Services for Older Adults at BPL offers inclusive programming and services tailored to our patrons over the age of 55, including lectures, films, performances and educational programs that reflect the wide interests of today’s older adults.

Programs & Classes
Programs & Classes for Older Adults

For the convenience of our older adults, we offer programming in person or virtually via Facebook Live, Zoom meetings, and streaming from our branch staff!

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Books by Mail
Books by Mail

This fast, convenient service provides books, audiobooks and videos to people who are homebound or have a visual disability.

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Creative Aging
Creative Aging

Multi-session art workshops for patrons ages 55 and older, led by a professional teaching artist.

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Technology For All
Technology For All

Assisting you in all your tech demands.

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More Services from BPL's SOA

We supply reading and viewing materials to older adults in nursing homes, senior centers and adult day-care centers. Materials include books in English and other languages (some in large print), DVDs and audiobooks. Books-to-Go Application

+Bridging the Gap:  Intergenerational Debate at BPL
Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate 

For Teens and Older Adults ready for a fun challenge and a chance to be heard…

Bridging the Gap is a 10-week intergenerational debate program in which elders [ages 55+] and youth [ages 14-19] will learn the art of debating and practice debate skills. There will be four weeks of instruction, two weeks of practice debates, with the last four weeks of the program featuring the debate tournament and leading to a championship round. An awards ceremony and reception will take place on the final day.

Over the course of the series sessions, participants will work in intergenerational pairs learning and practicing the art of debate. From what an argument is to crafting and developing a persuasive and impactful argument, Bridging the Gap will teach youth and older adults to develop and hone their research and public speaking skills. A podcast will be produced at the end of the series capturing the experiences, observations, and insights of the participants.

Youth and older adults have some of the same challenges, including social stereotyping and political underrepresentation. Bridging the Gap will provide a safe library space for generations to learn about one another while listening to one another. It’s where the fresh, creative energy from the young will pair with the useful, tested experience of older adults.

For more information on Bridging the Gap, please contact Berena Hughes at 718-236-1760 ext. 51143 or 929-466-1158 or email bhughes@bklynlibrary.org.

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL brought to you in partnership with and made possible by a grant from The Eisner Foundation

 

OSOS is an ongoing oral history project exploring Brooklyn from the words of its residents.

We reach beyond the Library to visit street fairs, senior residences, nursing homes, hospice care and more. Throughout Brooklyn, we host cultural programs, speakers and presenters at senior sites.

Upcoming Events

Creative Aging: Move To The Beat with Silver Shoes Dance Club

Tue, Nov 12 1:30pm
Flatbush Library

creative aging dance fitness and classes

Do you like music? Do you like to dance? 

Whether you have experience or not this is the great program for you. You can Cha-cha, Swing, Salsa, and more. Join Daniela from Silver Shoes Dance Club for nine weeks of social dance classes. 

Feel fit and fabulous learning new…

Adult Coloring

Tue, Nov 12 2:00pm
Marcy, Meeting Room

arts and crafts creative aging

Do you enjoy coloring?  Join us on Tuesdays from 2:00 - 3:00 pm for this known stress reliever.  

Weekly Craft Circle!

Tue, Nov 12 3:30pm
Borough Park Library

arts and crafts conversations creative aging

Looking for a space to make art, exchange skills, and meet fellow crafters? Join us! Get to know fellow crafters at Borough Park Library's weekly craft circle! Bring your crocheting, knitting, embroidery, or whatever else you're working on.

Learn, share, and socialize.

 

(…

Community Celebration of Creative Aging: Inspired Jewels

Tue, Nov 12 4:30pm
Dekalb, Auditorium

creative aging jewelry making

Come celebrate the culmination of a 9-week workshop where participants learned basic jewelry making techniques here at the DeKalb Library.

You will see what they created, enjoy light refreshments, and meet the participants and other library patrons!

Creative Aging: Latin Social Dance & Movement

Tue, Nov 12 6:00pm
Cortelyou, Meeting Room

creative aging dance fitness and classes health and wellness

A weekly 90 minutes program specially designed for seniors connecting body, mind and spirit. 

Physical activity is essential to healthy aging; Latin social dancing among seniors can provide tremendous physical and emotional benefits; increase musical appreciation; encourage social…

Creative Aging: Sketchbook Journals with Watercolor

Wed, Nov 13 11:00am
Fort Hamilton, Meeting Room

arts and crafts creative aging

Join us in this 9-week worshop. Participantw will develop drawing, watercolor painting and journal writing skills through creative prompts and exercises, exploring and sharing their stories. At the culminating event participants will share their work and discuss their experiences. 

No…

Adult Coloring

Wed, Nov 13 1:00pm
Brooklyn Heights Library, Craft Room

arts and crafts creative aging

Please join us at our adult coloring session! We provide the supplies while you partake in a relaxing way to exercise your mind.

Teens are also welcome!

Creative Aging: Little Joys in Life Collage

Wed, Nov 13 1:30pm
Bay Ridge Library, Meeting Room

arts and crafts creative aging

This is an interactive text and image collaging workshop series featuring poems, stories, and photos about the history of photo-poetry and its unique power to ignite the imagination. We will employ pictures taken by participants and historical photographs as we write, creating works that fuse…

Crochet Circle

Wed, Nov 13 1:30pm
New Lots Library

adult learning creative aging crochet

Join  our crochet circle , learn  how to crochet while crafting  "new friendships!" All skill levels are welcome.

Creative Aging: Chinese Brush Painting & Calligraphy

Thu, Nov 14 1:00pm
Homecrest, Meeting Room

arts and crafts Chinese creative aging

Learn how to paint in the Chinese style.  Themes of paintings inspired by nature.  Bamboo, birds and flowers, fish, scenery and other subjects.  Learn the basic techniques in Chinese painting and develop your own style.  An introduction to Chinese characters.

Week…

Technology for All 

 Services for Older Adults' new initiative, Technology For All, may assist you in your tech needs, such as:

  • Screen Readers (NVDA, JAWS, Voiceover)
  • Phone & Android (Smartphones)
  • Computer Support (Google Suite, Microsoft365, Outlook, Gmail)
  • Virtual Programs (Zoom, Microsoft Team)
  • Social Media (Youtube, Instagram, Facebook)
  • Microsoft & Mac iOS Software. 

Email seniors@bklynlibrary.org or call 718-938-2525 for more information. 

Technology for All is generously supported by the New York Community Trust.

 

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate 

For Teens and Older Adults ready for a fun challenge and a chance to be heard…

Bridging the Gap is a 10-week intergenerational debate program in which elders [ages 55+] and youth [ages 14-19] will learn the art of debating and practice debate skills. There will be four weeks of instruction, two weeks of practice debates, with the last four weeks of the program featuring the debate tournament and leading to a championship round. An awards ceremony and reception will take place on the final day.

Over the course of the series sessions, participants will work in intergenerational pairs learning and practicing the art of debate. From what an argument is to crafting and developing a persuasive and impactful argument, Bridging the Gap will teach youth and older adults to develop and hone their research and public speaking skills. A podcast will be produced at the end of the series capturing the experiences, observations, and insights of the participants.

Youth and older adults have some of the same challenges, including social stereotyping and political underrepresentation. Bridging the Gap will provide a safe library space for generations to learn about one another while listening to one another. It’s where the fresh, creative energy from the young will pair with the useful, tested experience of older adults.

For more information on Bridging the Gap, please contact Berena Hughes at 718-236-1760 ext. 51143 or 929-466-1158 or email bhughes@bklynlibrary.org.

Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL brought to you in partnership with and made possible by a grant from The Eisner Foundation

 

Services for Older Adults is partially funded by Coordinated Outreach Library Services aid from the NYS Education Department, administered by the State Library’s Division of Library Development. All programs are sponsored by BPL’s Department of Outreach Services, which was established with the generous support of The Charles H. Revson Foundation.