Senior citizens can borrow a wide variety of themed activity kits
MONTCLAIR, NJ (September 30, 2021) — The Montclair Public Library has introduced a new free resource for senior citizens called “Senior Center in a Box.” These thoughtfully curated kits are focused on specific activities and themes, which seniors can do on their own or with minimal assistance, and are available for borrowing with an MPL library card.
Over 165 kits and counting are available, with themes such as knitting/crocheting, coloring, puzzles, birdwatching, exercise, board games, and book-and-DVD combinations. Each kit includes a complete set of materials needed for the activity. For example:
- The knitting/crocheting kits contain yarn and needles, as well as instructions for making caps to be donated to newborn babies at a local hospital.
- The coloring kits contain a variety of coloring books (which do not have to be returned), colored pencils, sharpeners, and crayons.
- Puzzles are available at different levels of difficulty and include jigsaw, crossword, sudoku, word search, and brain teasers.
- The birdwatching kit contains binoculars, a field guide, and maps.
- Games include both solitary and group options, such as dominos, cards, backgammon, chess, checkers, Boggle, and Yahtzee.
- Book-and-DVD combinations currently feature the popular titles Little Women, The Help, Murder on the Orient Express, and Hidden Figures. (Books and word search puzzles are available in large print.)
- The Library also collaborated with the Montclair History Center to create a kit taking seniors on a self-guided walking tour of Montclair.
Each kit can be borrowed for 28 days, with a maximum of three kits borrowed at a time. Seniors can visit montclairlibrary.org/adults/seniors/kits to browse available kits and reserve them, or call 973-744-0500 ext. 2232 for assistance. Once reserved, kits can be picked up from the Main Library or (upon request) from the Bellevue Avenue Branch. Kits can also be delivered through H.A.S. (Home Assisted Services), an MPL service in which library materials are delivered to Montclair residents who cannot visit the Library in person due to age, mobility issues, or other reasons.
“These kits are a great way for our seniors to have activities to do and stay active and entertained during this pandemic while they may not feel safe to go out in large groups. We are very excited to offer these and hope that our users will enjoy them,” said Peter Coyl, Library Director.
To gather a variety of ideas for the kits, a committee of Library staff reached out to local senior communities, the Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place organization, H.A.S. patrons, and the Township of Montclair’s Division of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair. Senior Center in a Box was initially conceived to fill the void left by the temporary closure of senior centers due to the pandemic. This project was funded by the Township of Montclair through federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) funding provided by Essex County.
In a related collaboration with the Township of Montclair, earlier this year the Library purchased 20 mobile WiFi hotspots using CARES Act funding. These devices can be borrowed by seniors residing in Montclair who do not have internet access at home.
About the Montclair Public Library
Founded in 1893, the Montclair Public Library serves the residents of Montclair, New Jersey. It has two facilities: the Main Library at 50 S. Fullerton Avenue and the Bellevue Avenue Branch at 185 Bellevue Avenue. The Library has been changing lives every day for over 125 years through words, ideas, and community building by providing unlimited opportunities for lifelong learning, discovery, and community engagement. In 2019, the Library had over 32,000 members, circulated more than 440,000 items, and saw nearly 330,000 visitors, making it one of the busiest municipal libraries in the state. Visit montclairlibrary.org for more information.
CONTACT:
Dawn Quinn, 973-744-0500 ext. 2280, dawn.quinn@montclairlibrary.org