Tablets are good for your health! Renfrewshire Libraries Improving younger and older people's experiences of living together in their community using digital technology This Project is supported by the Scottish Government Public Libraries Improvement Fund

Using technology is a good thing! There is a recognition that being part of the digital community can bring health and wellbeing benefits both to individuals and to society as a whole

Background to the project Target group is older people in the community - inviting school classes to join in brings together different sections of the community We use tablet technology, mostly iPads, to enable the groups to interact in a fun way that promotes learning for both groups Money from Scottish Government public library improvement fund paid for 12 tablets, 2 routers and the network time to provide internet access to get older people online

Barriers to Engagement with Target Groups Some of the perceived barriers during engagement with older people - Bringing the young people in helps to break down these perceptions Top of the list – “I’m too old!” It doesn’t do anything that would be of interest to me It’s too complicated My Son, Daughter, Grandson, Granddaughter, etc. don’t have the time to show me how to use them Slates – The first tablets meet the iPad – the new kid on the block!

Breaking Down the Barriers What we have learned ; most important element to engaging older adults with younger people is to establish some common ground older people may think there's nothing of interest to them. A way around this particular problem is for the young person to start showing someone nearby what the iPad can do, and let natural curiosity do the rest It’s too complicated – That’s why we’re here! Our older participants are able to experience elements of using a tablet with the support of both the young person and a dedicated member of staff. This is particularly useful when both parties are learning something new

Intergenerational activity With residents in the Gallowhill regeneration area of Paisley- A partnership with Renfrewshire Housing services and Gallowhill Primary School We are building a memory wall using unique Renfrewshire resources, including School Registers, Poor Law records and historical photographs, we can digitise and load tablets, children then use these as common talking points and use the devices themselves to capture the notes Glencairn Court residents and Gallowhill PS

Intergenerational coffee time Digital intergenerational activity for residents in sheltered housing – kicked off with an invitation to Monkdyke Sheltered Housing Complex to work in partnership with: Housing and Property services Active Communities pupils from Linwood High School

Taking it forward Expand our programme of intergenerational work with residents of sheltered housing complexes and build on the positive effect that interaction with young people and access to new technology can have on both groups Promote libraries own digital content to both older and younger members of the community – free e books, audio books and e magazines are coming soon Develop the unique resources that Renfrewshire holds, libraries are currently digitising records, Half Timer School Registers, Poor Law records, historical photographs Build on the networks to ensure that new joint partnership projects could be developed and attract funding

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