Twenty-Nine Organizations Selected to Serve on the Advisory Committee for Aging Together: An Evaluation of Library Programming for Older Adults

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) announces twenty-nine advisors for Aging Together: An Evaluation of Library Programming for Older Adults, a national evaluation initiative to better understand and disseminate information about the current state of older adult library programming.

The advisors will work with the project team, including the project funder, The John A. Hartford Foundation, to help inform the initiative’s research and provide feedback on deliverables. The advisory committee consists of thirteen library advisors and their recruited community partner and three national organizations from the field of aging. The selected library advisors and their community partners are:

• Lori Abbatepaolo, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, N.Y.
  • Carol Hartmann, Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center
• Jenna Barry, Medford (Mass.) Public Library
  • Kelly Fung, Senior Advisory Board of Medford Public Library
• Julie Brophy, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Md.
  • Mary Lynch, National Aging in Place Council - Greater Baltimore
• Brigid Castro, Jefferson Parish Library, Metairie, La.
  • Kasey Bealer, Positive Approach to Care
• Amy DelPo, Denver (Colo.) Public Library
  • Anne Walker, University of Denver
• Jodi Grebinoski, Virginia (Minn.) Public Library
  • Brenda Shafer-Pellinen, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging
• Janie Hermann, Princeton (N.J.) Public Library
  • Donna Cosgrove, Center for Modern Aging Princeton
• Meghan Moran, Oak Lawn (Ill.) Public Library
  • Laona Fleischer, AgeOptions
• John Piche, Cleveland Heights University Heights Public Library, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Megan Huth, Benjamin Rose
• Morgan Lockard-Ellis, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, Ky.
  • Breanna Williams, Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky
• Melissa Norr, DC Public Library
  • Liana King, Iona Senior Services
• Erin DeLucia, The Ocean County Library, Toms River, N.J.
  • Holly Smith, Ocean County Office of Senior Services
• Rosanna McGinnis, Opelika (Ala.) Public Library
  • Ayanna Thomas, Area Agency on Aging

National advisors are:

• Brynn Bowman, Center to Advance Palliative Care
• Kate Debartolo, Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Robyn Golden, Rush University Medical Center

See full bios for the advisors here.

This project is generously supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care. Learn more at www.johnahartford.org.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government, and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.

About the ALA Public Programs Office

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office empowers libraries to create vibrant hubs of learning, conversation, and connection in communities of all types. Learn more at www.ala.org/ppo.

About the Public Library Association

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 9,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or pla@ala.org.

#