Reading Interests of Older Adult Public Library Users.

This study sought to identify the reading interests and preferences of older adult public library users in the Oakwood, Ohio community, and also to gauge interest in large print materials within this group. Surveys assessed in this study were completed by 70 adults age 50 or over. The results revealed a wide range of reading interests and identified several strong preferences, similar to the findings of previous studies. A majority of readers indicated a preference for standard print over large type, although women showed a stronger interest in large print with increasing age. Unlike previous studies, the survey results indicated the large print collection is used by those of all ages, and is not of interest only among seniors. Collection management of large print may need to reflect the interests of all ages, while the needs of older adults should be a priority in the development and promotion of both the regular and large print collections. Appendices include the survey and cover letter. (Contains 13 references.) (Author/SWC)