Innovative Libraries respond to population ageing

Fingal libraries are delighted to work with Age Friendly Ireland and other libraries across the Country to develop our libraries in an Age Friendly way. Minister, Michael Ring, Department of Rural and Community Development officially launched the National Age Friendly Libraries Recognition Programme last week in Dublin.

The proportion of older people is increasing in almost every country of the world and as life expectancy increases, the need to ensure that Ireland becomes a great country in which to grow old is increasing too.

In 2016 data from the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative (HaPAI) survey showed that many older people were not using their public libraries, many reported finding them difficult to access. On foot of these findings, Age Friendly Ireland initiated a process with the Libraries Development Committee and the CCMA to encourage libraries to develop in a more age friendly way. Each local authority nominated one or more libraries to become an Age Friendly Library and in January this year, Age Friendly Ireland provided training in age friendly principles to 48 libraries nationally.

Two Fingal Libraries, Rush library and Malahide library received the Age Friendly charter at the ceremony.

Working with the libraries to develop them in a more Age Friendly way very much ties in with the policy of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Public Library Strategy 2018-2022 which was published this year builds on recent technological and service developments to focus on improving access, use and the position and status of public libraries in the community. The strategy seeks to develop the libraries as the ‘go-to’ places for a range of sustainable, integrated public services.

There have been huge advances in library programming, with Healthy Ireland, digital skills training, business supports and a national public library catalogue as well as online resources and e-learning courses. Making libraries more Age Friendly is another layer of evolution that contributes to the overall strategy for libraries and embeds them more deeply in the communities they serve.

Minister Michael Ring, Minister for Rural and Community Development said, “The public library strategy, Our Public Libraries 2022 – Inspiring, Connecting and Empowering Communities focuses on removing barriers to access, improving accessibility, and providing a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Age Friendly Libraries are enhancing the services and facilities and making sure that we are meeting the needs of older people in our communities. We want to make Ireland a great place for people to live and grow old in and I’m delighted to say that our libraries are here to help this. They are providing digital skills classes, health and wellbeing classes, hosting intergenerational activities and providing supports for people with dementia such as the ‘magic tables’ and I am delighted to launch the National Age Friendly Libraries Recognition Programme.”

Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland, Catherine McGuigan said “Making the built environment and public spaces age friendly for people of all ages to enjoy is a key objective of the Age Friendly Ireland Programme and the local government sector. Libraries are viewed by older people as a central hub for people to engage in their local communities. Social participation is critical to health and wellbeing. We are delighted today that our libraries are being recognised for their participation and commitment to making their libraries age friendly and celebrating the great work that is rolling out across Ireland.”

Fingal County Council’s County Librarian, Betty Boardman said; “I am very pleased that two Fingal Libraries, Malahide and Rush, have received the Age Friendly charter. Library staff in Fingal really embraced this Age Friendly project and offer a service that is welcoming, accessible and innovative. Further initiatives are being introduced at these branches to benefit not only older members of the community but young and old alike.”

While this event is an acknowledgement of the remarkable work the libraries are undertaking, it should also be viewed as the start of a process, as it is planned to expand this initiative to other libraries across the country.

ENDS

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Notes to the Editor:

Age Friendly Ireland

Ageing societies present one of the greatest challenges facing governments around the world today. The number of people aged 65 and over is now higher than at any time before in history. Our life expectancy has increased from 78.8 years in 2005 to 81.4 years in 2015. This remarkable demographic shift is welcomed. The ageing of our population in Ireland offers great opportunities for our intergenerational social capital with our society benefiting from the experiences and knowledge of older persons. For 10 years Age Friendly Ireland has recognised the challenges and opportunities that exist in the context of our ageing population and is committed, under its now local government hosting, to ensuring that Ireland is responsive to the needs of people of all ages and abilities as they grow older.

Ireland’s Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme is coordinated by Age Friendly Ireland, an appointed shared service of local government hosted by Meath County Council, it brings together, supports and provides technical guidance to the 31 local authority led, multi-agency Age Friendly City and County Programmes.

Building a sustainable Ireland for our ageing population requires a cross government and multi sectoral response. Four Government Departments, at Assistant Secretary level, currently are members on Age Friendly Ireland’s National Advisory Group (Housing Planning & Local Government, Rural & Community Development, Transport Tourism & Sport, Health) as well as 3 Local Authority Chief Executives, National Director in HSE, Assistant Commissioner An Garda Siochana and CEO of Chambers Ireland.

All 31 local authorities have signed up to the Age Friendly Programme and have established a strategic Age Friendly Alliance (chaired by the Chief Executive of the local authority or an Independent Chair) and a diverse Older People’s Council representing a broad range of older people. There is a dedicated Age Friendly Programme Manager in each local authority supporting local strategy implementation. It is a key implementer of the actions in the National Positive Ageing Strategy. All of this work relies on a partnership approach with the voice of the older person being central to all developments.

Age Friendly Ireland is Ireland’s affiliate of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age Friendly Cities and Communities Programme, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities and communities prepare for rapid population ageing and the parallel trend of urbanisation. Currently more than 700 cities in 39 countries are signed up to the World Health Organization’s global network of age-friendly cities and communities to promote healthy, active ageing and improve the quality of life for people over 60.