The Senior Connections program which has been in operation at the Garden City Public Library since 1985 is initiating its 21 st year of programs and services that are designed to be of special interest to senior residents, to their families and to care givers. In view of the rapidly expanding population of older persons in Garden City, as well as in the general population in the U S and throughout the world, Senior Connections will offer a series of Public Forums and Intergenerational Workshops that will be of special interest to Garden City’s older and younger residents.

The first public Forum of the new season will be held on Tuesday afternoon, September 20 th in the downstairs Main Conference room (elevator available) from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. and will feature an overview of the spectrum of services in the public library that includes “a world of services” to the aging. As well as a series of workshops that are shared in the mutual interests of younger and older residents of all ages. A panel of library staff members will present a spectrum of the “World of Library Services” which includes public forums on current and pending legislation that are of special benefit to older persons. A host of other library services includes computer instruction, arts and cultural events, referrals to senior services, book, delivery services to the homebound, cell phones to seniors, and assistive devices in the public library that enhance sight and hearing capabilities.

The speakers on this panel of library staff will include: Alan G. Roeckel, Director of the Garden City Public Library, Joseph Agolia, Computer Systems Librarian, Martin Bowe, Reference Librarian and Senior Connections Coordinator, Marge Kelly, Young Adult Librarian and Salvatore Catania, President of the Friends of the Garden City Library.

In addition to the Intergenerational Senior Connections Programs that has been in operation at the Garden City High School since 1995, a new agenda of Intergenerational programs will share the mutual interests to older and younger participants in joint workshops at the Garden City Public Library. The focus of these workshops will be on mutual sharing in the arts, in fun with board games, in observing holiday celebrations, in family history and in creative literature.

In honor of the special recognition of Grandparents Day in the month of September, a special celebration for Grandparents and Grandchildren of all ages will enable younger and older residents to share interests and enjoy the mutual pleasure of this holiday. This event is scheduled for Friday, September 30 th at 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Main Conference Room of the Library. The program will feature “The Singing Busman.” For further information, call librarian Martin Bowe at 742-8405.