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Adult Library Services

Adult services is a wide-ranging area of library work. Your community of users - the ones you have, the ones you will have, and the ones you can have - will differ from one library to the next and one year to the next.

Across Colorado, public libraries strive to serve adults to address their varying and diverse needs as well as to the aspirations that may enrich their lives as individuals as well as their communities. In 2025, Colorado State Library published Adult Services in Colorado Libraries: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How," Dr. Noah Lenstra for Colorado State Library 2025 (PDF). This report began as a study on what Adult Services looks like across our state's public libraries, hoping to identify areas of success that can be amplified and where opportunities exist to either create or expand. 

In addition to capturing foundational information on what Colorado’s public libraries do to serve adults, the survey also documented opportunities, including the need and/or desire for:

  • Better support for intergenerational programs and services, which often are provided without an intentional focus on connecting generations and age groups together
  • Better support for new adults (e.g., those in their early 20’s), individuals and communities new to the United States or to Colorado, and adults with disabilities 
  • Better support for small and tiny libraries, who sought help with funding and staffing at a rate greater than their more urban counterparts
  • Better support urban and suburban libraries, who sought help assessing impact and tailoring programs and services at a rate greater than their smaller counterparts 
  • Better connection between Colorado’s public libraries and other state agencies and initiatives, which is especially important given the interest among Colorado’s public libraries to support patron access to government services and initiatives available to them
  • Better support for librarians who want to ensure that the robust and valuable services they offer for adults across Colorado are robustly utilized 

This report showed that Colorado’s public libraries – of all sizes – are doing critical work to support adults of all types. With more support and connections these services will continue to grow, develop, and thrive (Lenstra, 2025, pp. 7-8). 

To that end, libraries may find resources on this page and through the various offices of the Colorado State Library. Below are some broad topics under which there are resources for learning about some adults and how to meet some of their needs relevant to those themes. 

Adult Services Topics

Community Data 

Programming

Aging and
Older Adults

Workforce and Jobs

Taxes and
Financial Health

Health and Wellness

Adult Literacy
and Education

Books and Reader's Advisory

Overdose Prevention

 

Community Needs & Population Data

Population data

Community Dialogues

Research and Reports

Programming 

Resources and Ideas 

Program Evaluation 

  • Project Outcome - Free evaluation toolkit for gathering survey data from programs to help libraries see what's working, what isn't, and learn what programs your community wants
  • Evaluating Library Programming workbook from the Connected Learning Alliance 

Research and Reports

Aging and Older Adults

Agencies and Organizations

Programs 

Memory Care

Research and Reports

Workforce, Job and Career Development

Taxes and Financial Health 

Links for Library Public Computers or Websites (Public-Facing)

  • My Friend Ben 
    • Tool for discovering what benefits are applicable to users and links for applying for those benefits. These include locally-relevant support based, income-based support, and resources that include tax rebates, direct monies, food and hygiene supplies, older adult, and family/ child support. 
  • Colorado PEAK
    • The place to apply for and manage your medical, food, cash or other State of Colorado benefits online, covers all human services and social programs.
  • Get Ahead Colorado
    • Tax filing assistance and tools to help maximize tax benefit as well as for locating help. 

Health and Wellness

Active Living and Healthy Community Resources

Agencies and Organizations

Research and Reports

Adult Literacy and Education 

Books and Other Materials for Adult Literacy

Tutor Training/ Adult Literacy Education

Colorado-Based Resources

National Resources

Research and Reports

Books and Readers Advisory 

One Book or Common Read Programs

  • Big Read - From National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Big Read offers libraries opportunities for grant funding of a common read program for your communities.

Readers Advisory Resources

Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction

Toolkit for Colorado Libraries

Opioids: Training and Information

Prescription Medication Safety

Agencies and Organizations

Research and Reports

For more information, contact the Colorado State Library at 303-866-6900, or send us an email.

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