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.
Programs & Classes for 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!
Books by Mail
This fast, convenient service provides books, audiobooks and videos to people who are homebound or have a visual disability.
Creative Aging
Multi-session art workshops for patrons ages 55 and older, led by a professional teaching artist.
More Services from BPL's SOA
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
+Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate at BPL
Bridging the Gap: Intergenerational Debate
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.
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
OSOS is an ongoing oral history project exploring Brooklyn from the words of its residents.
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: Sketchbook Journals with Watercolor
Join us in this 9-week worshop. Participantw will develop drawing, watercolor painting and journal writing skills through creative prompts and exercises, exploring and sharing their stories. At the culminating event participants will share their work and discuss their experiences.
No…
Adult Coloring
Please join us at our adult coloring session! We provide the supplies while you partake in a relaxing way to exercise your mind.
Teens are also welcome!
Crochet Circle
Join our crochet circle , learn how to crochet while crafting "new friendships!" All skill levels are welcome.
Creative Aging: Chinese Brush Painting & Calligraphy
Learn how to paint in the Chinese style. Themes of paintings inspired by nature. Bamboo, birds and flowers, fish, scenery and other subjects. Learn the basic techniques in Chinese painting and develop your own style. An introduction to Chinese characters.
Week…
Creative Aging - Creative Life Writing: Sharing Memories
In this course, we'll focus on different themes, central to our lived experience of the world. Themes will include gratitude, adversity, happiness, and courage. Instructor Ari Satok will start each class by bringing in a variety of artistic reflections on that theme (quotes, cartoons, songs,…
Creative Aging: Vibrant Expressions with Watercolor
This program will explore the fundamentals of drawing and the techniques of watercolor painting to begin and complete portrait, still life and landscape subjects.
No Experience Necessary. Supplies will be provided.
Registration Required. For more information, please call 718.…
Creative Aging: Favorite Moments Collage
Join us in this amazing 9-week series. This is an interactive text and image collaging workshop series featuring poems, stories, and photos about the history of photo-poetry and its unique power to ignite the imagination. We will employ pictures taken by participants and historical photographs…
Creative Aging: Visual Inspiration Collage
In this 9-week Mask & Collage workshop you will be using expressive ideas, using eye hand coordination along with fine motor skills class participants will create one-of-a-kind masks and collages. Participants will mix acrylic paint colors, practice color and design theory. Various collage…
Creative Aging: Journaling in Watercolor *FULL* (only open to previous class participants)
Join us in this 9-week workshop. Participants will develop drawing, watercolor painting and journal writing skills through creative prompts and exercise, exploring and sharing their stories. Ending with a culminating event, participants will share their work and discuss their experiences.…
Creative Aging: Latin Social Dance & Exercise
Get moving, increase your energy and feel great dancing the most popular Latin Social dances ( Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, Chachacha & Bachata).
A weekly 90 minutes program specially designed for seniors connecting body, mind and spirit.
Physical activity is essential to…
Staff Picks
- History of NYC
- NYC Picture Books