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Sunnyvale library adds grant-funded 'memory kits' and expands senior services
Summary
At the Jan. 5 Board of Library Trustees meeting, adult-services librarian Jason Martin outlined programs for older residents — including volunteer-led outreach, digital-literacy offerings and 20 grant-funded memory kits aimed at people with dementia and caregivers.
Adult services librarian Jason Martin told the Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees on Jan. 5 that the city library is expanding services aimed at older residents, adding new dementia-friendly resources and increasing outreach to reduce isolation.
Martin said Sunnyvale’s population is about 159,673 and that roughly 44,223 residents are age 50 or older (about 27 percent). The presentation framed the library’s senior work around three goals: help older adults learn or stimulate their minds, provide social connections, and develop services for people with dementia and their caregivers.
The library is maintaining a mix of physical and digital collections used by older patrons: Martin reported 21,825 active cardholders aged 50+, 2,964 large-print books, 2,817 physical audiobooks on CD and 45,298 downloadable e-audio and e-book titles accessible through Libby and CloudLibrary. Shauna C. Dunkley, supervisor for adult services, said the CD audiobook collection is being maintained while the library invests more in streaming and downloadable formats and referred patrons who need specialized services to the California State Library for the Blind.
Martin described recurring programs for older adults — a monthly Senior Center book group (about 15–17 participants), a classic film club, a weekly Get Connected one-on-one tech-help drop-in and a classroom-style Easy Tech Seniors series taught by a local high-school partner. He also described a homebound delivery service that interviews homebound patrons monthly and delivers curated materials; staff use rating sheets to refine selections.
The library received a Pacific Library Partnership grant to buy memory kits for people with dementia and their caregivers. Martin said the library will add 20 kits in nine different varieties; some kits are mentally stimulating while others are designed to encourage joint activities that help caregivers and people with dementia connect. Staff plan demonstrations for a caregiver support group at the Senior Center, showcases by teen volunteers and visits to local senior-care centers to promote the kits.
Martin relayed a client testimonial he said was shared about home-delivery service: “The library keeps me breathing and smiling,” which he cited as an example of the program’s impact. Board members asked about likely demand and circulation of the kits; staff said demand is unknown until kits are cataloged and promoted, and that prominently displaying items tends to increase checkouts.
Martin and staff characterized the programs as reflecting the library’s role as a community hub and a partner with groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association. Next steps include cataloging and barcoding the kits, scheduling demonstrations, and coordinating teen- and volunteer-led outreach. The prepared portion of Martin’s presentation concluded with an invitation for questions.
