Lifelong Learning & LibrariesA preliminary investigation on a local scale

Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.

—Robert Browning

Members of the Team

Susan Chute

Rajni Misra

Marilyn Kahn-Wilen

Robert Weiss

Lifelong Learning: what is it?

“a continuously supportive process which stimulates and empowers individuals…to acquire all the knowledge, values, skills, and understanding they will require throughout their lifetimes…and to apply them with confidence, creativity, and enjoyment in all roles, circumstances, and environments”

The Commission for a Nation of Lifelong Learners

Lifelong Learning: Where is it?

Scope of the projectInvestigate local iterations of lifelong learning (LL) programs, particularly concerning the 50+

demographic.

Methodology

Communication tools

Challenges

o Scheduling

o Eliciting replies from telephone contacts

National Lifelong Learning Networks

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Elderhostel Institute Network

LLI Commonalities

Sponsored by a college or university & take place on college campuses

Membership restricted to those aged 50+ or 55+

No academic credit

Charge a membership fee or dues

Primarily self-supporting

Social component is essential

Administered by the membership and peer learning is emphasized

Attract a highly educated, continuing membership and often market through word of mouth

Offer a wide range of courses, often academically rigorous

LLI Field Surveys

LLI programs, ranked by cost

LLI Program

Hosting Institutio

n

Type of Institutio

nLocation

LLI memb

ers

Matriculated

undergrads

LLI Cost per

annum

Course Leader

s

Courses

in a typical term

Institute for

Learning in Retirement

Cedarcrest Senior Living

Community

Retirement

community

Pompton Plains, NJ

n/a $25Peers, outside experts

40

ILRFarmingdale (SUNY)

Public University

Farmingdale, NY

6858$70+

**Peers 15

ILRBergen

Community College

Community college

Paramus, NJ

800 1000* $180Peers,

Faculty, Outside experts

52

Osher LLIStony Brook (SUNY)

Public University

Stony Brook, NY

1000 16341 $290 Peers 85

Molloy Institute

for Lifelong Learning

Molloy College

Private College

Rockville Center,

NY256 3414 $395 Paid

speakers n/a

Personal Enrichmen

t in Retirement

Hofstra University

Private University

Hempstead, NY

7191 $525Peers, outside experts

40 single presentations***

Institute of Retired

Professionals

The New School

Private University

New York City

270 6825 $940 Peers 35

* In credit-bearing programs; 9700 in noncredit continuing education. **Plus approx. $25 additional for each 4-wk-study group. *** For June 2012, roughly 40 90-min. presentations; some presentation topics are ongoing.

Three Public Libraries & Lifelong Learning for 50+

For seniors: 3 Libraries

3 library websites for seniors

The New York Public Library

Montclair Public Library

Farmingdale Public Library

Learning that comes to you

Telephone Tutoring

Photo by Holger.Ellgaard [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Lifelong learning onlineThe coming revolution

May Day, Moscow. 1928. By Diego Rivera. Watercolor & Crayon. In the collections of MoMA.

Th

e r

ise

of

the

MO

OC

A typology of Lifelong Learning Online

MOOCs & 50+

ConclusionsLLIs and local libraries have little contact, much less collaboration, although their missions overlap.

Options for LL online are proliferating and altering the educational landscape

“Providing social and community gathering places for seniors” is a core responsibility for libraries

Collaborations and partnerships between thriving LLIs and libraries, and adaptations by both to the online lifelong learning ecosystem could add significant value in meeting the social and intellectual needs of the burgeoning 50+ user base

Cartoon source: the blog Balancing Acts http://balancingacts. wordpress.com/2010/08/09/lifelong-learning-learning-for-life/