The San Antonio Public Library serves a community as diverse in age as in ethnicity. Tech jargon such as “tweeting” and “blogging” permeates our culture in everyday conversation, as well as in all forms of media. Many seniors may feel that they are unable to communicate in this new technology-centered world, particularly with tech-savvy younger members of their family. Librarians recognized an opportunity to engage seniors and sought to produce a program that would educate seniors about what social media is, does, and can do. The program that was created was a basic “101” and provided them with the basic knowledge that would successfully allow them to engage on their own.

“The Mysteries of Social Media Unveiled” was a program designed by Dr. Denise Barkis Richter, Professor of Journalism/Mass Communication at Palo Alto College. She had presented a well-received program on tweeting and blogging for adults at a branch location the previous spring and was asked to do one for older adults as part of Live Well, Age Smart (a signature series of the Library). An added value was that Dr. Barkis could present in both English and Spanish, allowing SAPL to reach a broader segment of our customers. Participants were encouraged to bring electronic devices and they receive one-on-one instruction by Dr. Barkis and members of the SAPL staff.

The program was tremendously popular and received exceptional media attention by local outlets. It was recognized that this class addressed a need and a decision was made that this program would be presented again periodically in both English and Spanish at new locations as a continuing part of the Live Well Age Smart series.