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.

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

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

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Assisting you in all your tech demands.

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More Services from BPL's SOA

Books-to-Go

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

DOROT University Without Walls

Monthly teleconference and online courses for those who are homebound or living in senior residences or nursing homes. Visit dorotusa.org for more information.

Our Streets, Our Stories (OSOS)

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

Nursing Homes, Senior Centers, and Residences Services

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: Charcoal Creations

Mon, Apr 22 4:00pm

Brighton Beach Library, Auditorium

Artists on Site arts and crafts creative aging

Learn the fundamentals of drawing and shading. This 9-week charcoal workshop is designed for beginners. We will explore simple techniques that will certainly help in improving your drawing ability. This class series will be taught by Nigel Morgan.

Supplies will be…

Creative Aging: Poetic Collage

Tue, Apr 23 1:00pm

Spring Creek, Meeting Room

Artists on Site arts and crafts creative aging

This poetry in visual forms workshop approaches language as a tangible entity and the image as literal and figurative word. We will explore the intersection of the drawn, written, & spoken line, considering public space, placement, and design.

For the workshop we…

Decorate Your Own Tote Bag!

Tue, Apr 23 2:00pm

Gravesend, Auditorium

arts and crafts creative aging

Come decorate your own tote bag using acrylic paint and paint markers! All supplies will be provided.

Registration Required. To Register, please visit Gravesend Library at 303 Ave X at West 2nd Street or call the branch at 718-382-5792.

Adult Coloring and Puzzles

Tue, Apr 23 2:00pm

Brownsville Library

arts and crafts creative aging

Do you enjoy coloring? What about crossword, sudoku, or word search puzzles? Join us on Tuesdays from 2:00 - 3:00 pm for this known stress reliever.

Creative Dancing and Movement with Silver Shoes Dance Club

Wed, Apr 24 10:30am

Brooklyn Heights Library, Multipurpose Room

creative aging dance fitness and classes health and wellness

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 dance styles weekly all…

Creative Dancing and Movement Silver Shoes Dance Club

CA: Embracing Artistic Growth: A Journey through Acrylics

Wed, Apr 24 12:30pm

Crown Heights, Auditorium

Artists on Site arts and crafts creative aging

Our 'Embracing Artistic Growth: A Journey Through Acrylics' program invites Older Adults to explore the vibrant world of acrylic painting over nine weeks. Each session is designed to build upon the last, from foundational techniques to the nuances of personal expression. Participants will…

Puzzles in the Afternoon

Wed, Apr 24 12:30pm

Clinton Hill Library

creative aging table-top & board games

Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea as you work on a puzzle with members of the community! A great way to relax and slow down.

This free program is designed for adults and all supplies will be provided.

Creative Writing: Voices of Wisdom

Wed, Apr 24 1:30pm

Midwood, Basement Meeting Room

Artists on Site creative aging creative writing

All people have a story and somewhere inside them they have the desire to tell it. Many older adults have never had the opportunity to tell their stories and Dave relishes and cherishes the opportunity to help them succeed in writing their stories.

Come join Dave Johnson as he will…

Adult Coloring

Wed, Apr 24 2:00pm

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.

Ulmer Park presents Creative Aging: Chinese Brush Painting & Calligraphy

Thu, Apr 25 11:00am

Ulmer Park, Meeting Room

Artists on Site arts and crafts Chinese

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

Weekly Lessons:

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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.

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.

Bridging the Gap at Brooklyn Public Library, Winter 2024: Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30pm, January 16 - March 19, Virtually on Zoom.

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.