NEWS RELEASE
INNISFIL IDEALAB&LIBRARY
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Innisfil ideaLAB & Library is the recipient of the 2023 W. Kaye Lamb Award for Service to Seniors for its ongoing project Kits and Community: Activity Kits for Older Adults. The award recognizes outstanding innovative and excellent library service to seniors. The award is co-sponsored by Ex Libris Association (ELA) and the Canadian Federation of Library Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA-FCAB) and is awarded biennially.
Through this program, the library offers monthly activity kits to Innisfil’s senior community. Kits may contain a variety of items depending on community need and interest, these include crafting supplies, materials to support active lifestyles (e.g. handheld exercise equipment), and self-care supplies as well as information about accessing important resources in the community. This project increases the social participation for older adults, created opportunities for community connection, co-learning and shared experiences.
The programs are devoted to connecting seniors with each other through their shared interests, and keeping seniors active and engaged in the community. Since the project began in 2020, 8,974 kits have been completed by Innisfil’s senior residents.
“We have heard from the seniors community how grateful they are for the monthly kits and the demand for the kits is consistently high” CEO Erin Scuccimarri said. “These efforts have ensured our customers have been able to remain connected and engaged while creating new friendships.”
HackLAB Kits for Seniors are available through our website at no cost. These kits are pre-made craft kits designed to bring the Library’s HackLAB to your home. All supplies are included with each kit containing all the necessary laser cut, vinyl cut, or electronics pieces created by library staff. The activity kits have been funded through a number of grant partnerships over the years. To support this project and to help keep the kits free for Innisfil’s Seniors, you can make a donation to the Innisfil ideaLAB & Library.
The library offers additional programs for seniors at both our Cookstown and Lakeshore branches. Sociable Seniors offers meaningful connections as well as the opportunity to learn something new. From paper quilling to painting a birdhouse, these free programs are funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. Registration is required for this weekly program.
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Photo Submitted: From left to right: Accepting the award, Kathryn Schoutsen, Director, Community Development & Advocacy, Jocelyn Martin, Library Programmer, Programming & Outreach, Erin Scuccimarri, CEO, Innisfil ideaLAB & Library and Christina Wilson, Ex Libris Association, Chair of W. Kaye Lamb Awards Committee.
