We still have a newspaper where I am living but the newspaper in my hometown where my parents still live has stopped publishing recently also. Here are some things that come to mind based upon conversations with my mother who is not on social media and only online a little bit:

You can see if you can put library information in newsletters already going out to that population. For example, the senior center or the commission on aging might already be sending information to that demographic and might allow you to include something in their newsletter.
Post flyers for programs where seniors frequent: senior centers, commission on aging, popular restaurants, etc.
See if you can include library information with the meals on wheels delivery program.
Send (or drop off) a library newsletter to the retirement and nursing homes to be posted in their common gathering area.
Or visit the nursing/retirement homes and talk about what's happening at the library. Bring books! Start a book delivery program there.
Find out which senior is very chatty and knows (and talks to) everyone and tell them about your programs for that month and ask them to spread the word.
Depending on your budget, you can pull a report on any seniors that live in your area and send them a monthly newsletter of what is happening at the library that they might be interested in.

Good luck! I hope this helped a little.

Janelle

Janelle (Martin) Bishop
Head of Fiction
Marguerite deAngeli Library
Lapeer District Library

921 W. Nepessing St.

Lapeer, MI 48446
jmartin@lib.lapeer.org
810-664-6971 ext 3218

On Thu, Aug 11, 2022 at 6:15 PM Director via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org> wrote:

Hello everyone,

Our local newspaper announced today that they will be ceasing publication come this November 3rd. We relied on the newspaper heavily to reach elderly members of the community to share library news and upcoming events, as we have a dedicated section of the paper to submit columns for the library. Since they are discontinuing the newspaper, we will need to find other alternatives to engage these patrons, who usually are adverse to the usual methods of social media or a website (which we already also use, but see little engagement from older community members).

I was wondering what other libraries do to reach these patrons if they do not have a local newspaper to rely on. I am happy to compile replies and send along to michlib if enough are interested in hearing responses.

Thank you,
Kelsey Rutkowski
--------------------------------------
Library Director
Indian River Area Library
3546 S Straits Hwy
PO Box 160
Indian River, MI 49749
(231) 238-8581
indianriverlibrary.org
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