SCCLD Senior Resources Placemat
Santa Clara County Library, Calif.
Innovation Synopsis
Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) Bookmobile staff created, designed and distributed an 11" x 17" Senior Resources Placemat. The placemat features relevant information and services for seniors and identifies all the library systems in the county. SCCLD Bookmobile staff wanted the placemat to be fun, informative, professional and welcoming.
Challenge/Opportunity
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 15% of Santa Clara County residents were 65 years old or older, and many seniors and their families have a difficult time finding and navigating pertinent and helpful information about local senior resources and services. SCCLD staff created, designed and distributed the Senior Resources Placemat to address this challenge. SCCLD partnered with the following agencies, and featured them on the placemat:
- Meals On Wheels
- SourceWise
- Outreach Mobile Services
- 211
- Santa Clara County Department of Aging and Adult Services
Hospice of the Valley Staff also featured library services for seniors on the placemat, including:
- Bookmobile
- Homebound Services
- Downloadable digital materials
- PlaneTree Health Information Center (a consumer health and medical information library)
Key Elements of Innovation
SCCLD partnered with local social and health services agencies, and featured them, along with library specific resources on the placemat. After the 11” x 17” placemat was designed and printed, staff identified locations around Santa Clara County where the placemats would be distributed. Staff selected Bookmobile stops at senior living facilities, senior community centers and other locations that offered senior lunch programs as placemat distribution points. More than 3,000 placemats were delivered to these locations and used at meal times.
Achieved Outcomes
SCCLD staff achieved the following outcomes related to this project:
- Partnered to advance community health priorities;
- Provided seniors with enhanced access to health care resources;
- Reached informational resources for an underserved population in Santa Clara County;
- Created an attractive, reusable product to promote SCCLD services and resources to seniors and organizations that assist seniors in Santa Clara County;
- Distributed more than 3,000 placemats to seniors in Santa Clara County;
- Formed and fostered relationships with many nonprofit and government agencies featured on the placemat; and
- Used the placemats as educational tools to inform library staff about local senior resources.