Thanks to an AARP Livable Communities Challenge Grant awarded to Aging Well in Waldo County in the Spring of 2019, the Liberty Library was able to replace their outside lights with more energy efficient and brighter ones making it easier for people to enter and exit the library safely at night.
The Library recently created an Age-Friendly outdoor public space with a granite bench and table with chess/checkerboard engraved atop. The money from the AARP Livable Communities Grant was also used to buy planters and colorful plants to create an attractive space for people to relax and chat with friends. The “Old Coots” gave advice to passerby on Saturday mornings throughout the summer in this outdoor space. These were volunteers over 60 years old, and every one of them enjoyed the “Old Coot Giving Free Advice – It may be bad advice but it’s free!” The Old Coots also gave out free coffee and donuts. Another grant from the Maine Communities Foundation for rural libraries enabled the Library to arrange for an octogenarian woodworker to build a Little Free Library that was placed outside the library. This grant also provided funds for purchasing multiple copies of the book, “Women Rowing North: Navigating Currents and Flourishing as We Age,” by Mary Pipher. This Book Club Set was read and discussed by patrons in a book discussion group. An Aging Well group meets monthly at the Library to share lunch, socialize, and have opportunities to hear and question speakers on topics of interest.
Many volunteers in the various organizations in Liberty are retirees. Most of the volunteers at the Liberty Library are over 60 and the library would not be open 20 hours a week without the commitment of these volunteers.
Elderly people in Liberty, especially those living alone, can participate in the Waldo County “Friendly Caller” program. Every morning participants call the dispatcher for a well being check. If they don’t call, someone will call them. If still no response, a sheriff deputy will check on them.