Retirees: Learning, Rediscovering…Living the Dream

They’ve worked hard. They’ve raised kids, saved, and made sacrifices. Now, with long-awaited free time, they want to pursue new interests and rediscover old ones. Today’s retirees are keen to make the most of their non-working years.

But the more than 13% of the US population aged 65 or older (and that percentage expected to balloon in the next five years)1is the group least likely to have visited the library in the last year.2Public libraries have their work cut out to serve the needs of this age group. Luckily, Gale has resources that can attract and support seniors’ thirst for discovery.

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Resources that Help Crafters Cultivate, Connect, and Create

Knitting at your library

Marissa, whose interest in crafting was piqued by Pinterest, gets a great sensepublic library Resources for The Crafterof accomplishment in learning new skills and has even begun to sell her creations on a craft website and in a local shop that carries unique handmade items.

Erica Domesek, founder of PS I Made This and a judge on The Learning Channel’sCraft Wars, sees this as a strong trend among younger consumers, saying, “People are interested in making their lives more beautiful, more fun.” Homemade crafts offer a welcome respite from the proliferation of impersonal, mass-produced goods.

As crafting grows in popularity, thanks to enthusiastic sharing of craft ideas on social network sites and a renewed desire for handmade artistry, community members are looking for resources that can support their interests.

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