For senior citizen Peg Niland, the Norwell (MA) Public Library and volunteer Kathy Narkiewicz provide an invaluable service by delivering books, videos and DVDs to homebound seniors like her. Now 88 years old, Peg is retired from the Boston Public Library and wants to be able to keep up with her reading, but cannot drive.
Thelma Osbourne too, can no longer get to the library. The Council on Aging Van that used to take her there has suffered cut-backs in funding, and has eliminated the library stop from the route.
Narkiewicz, a retired geriatric social worker who majored in English literature as a college student, loves having the opportunity to share good books with others. “I like to find out what other people like to read,” she added, “and what their interests are.” She proposed the program to library director Becky Freer, who jumped on board with the idea.
Story at Town Online .
A fine idea, but…
…why on Earth would the Council on Aging Van eliminate the library stop from the route??
Delivering books is nice and good, but the library is also a good, free place to be amongst people, which is also nice for “the aging.”
Re: a big, big mistake
Absolutely! One of the worst things about getting older and losing your own wheels and/or not be able to avail yourself of public transportaion is that you become a “shut in” – and it’s not by choice.
Denying one’s “senior citizens” a stop at their public library is extremely short sited and one would hope – unthinkable.
Sounds to me as though the Council on Aging could use some folks on board who know something about what’s helpful to and socially important for “the aging” population. I shudder to think who’s in charge of this council. Though I don’t know why I should be surprised because it seems to me that the more bureaucratic social service organizations one hears about the more depressing it can be.