Global Age-friendly Cities

The World Health Organisation has an active ageing framework. "Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age." This mission would apply equally well to the services for 50+ years in a public library. Building on this framework, WHO published a Global age friendly cities guide in 2007 which includes some goals that could also articulate quite effectively the goals of libraries in serving older people:

"In an age-friendly city, policies, services, settings and structures support and enable people to age actively by:

• recognizing the wide range of capacities and resources among older people;
• anticipating and responding flexibly to ageing-related needs and preferences;
• respecting their decisions and lifestyle choices;
• protecting those who are most vulnerable; and
• promoting their inclusion in and contribution to all areas of community life."

References:

• Active ageing: a policy framework. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002 (http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/who_nmh_nph_02.8.pdf)
• Global age-friendly cities : a guide. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2007 (http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf)