The first Dating Over 50 session was held at the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020 by library coordinator of adult services Catherine Schmidt.
(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)
January 22, 2020 - 7:30 PM
Janet is hoping to find that special someone to marry but, at age 61, finding love comes with some challenges.
A new program launched this week at the Kamloops library, however, may help her and anyone over the age of 50 years old get back into the swing of being single and dating.
Janet, who asked for her last name to not be published, was one of nearly 30 adults at the Dating Over 50 workshop hosted by the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library last night, Jan. 21.
Library staff decided to offer the program after seeing a large number of seniors and older adults at the library asking for help setting up online dating profiles.
“We really started noticing the world of dating has definitely moved digital,” Catherine Schmidt, co-ordinator of adult services at the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library says.
“We have also seen situations where people are trying to send money to these (online) people or they are putting personal images of their grandkids on Facebook.”
So, after reaching out to Tina Williams, a U.S.-based librarian, who started a Dating over 50 program at a Chicago library, staff at the local downtown library decided to offer three similar sessions.
“The reason we are offering this at the library is because we are a safe, welcoming, and private environment so people can feel free to share their information with us if they want to,” Schmidt says.
“We won’t tell anybody if they’re coming so it’s just about a safe welcoming place where you are going to get accurate information.”
Last night’s session focused on how to get yourself out there, where to meet people, and talking about some of the myths and challenges of dating as a senior or older adult. Local matchmaker, Tara Holmes of Holmes Is Where the Heart Is also made an appearance to give pointers and advice on dating.
For Janet, she decided to attend last night’s event after hearing about it on the radio the day before.
Some of the challenges she faces in the dating world is having confidence and finding places to meet people. She plans to attend the other two sessions in February and March as well.
February’s session will focus on health and wellness and March will have the library’s computer staff show patrons on how to stay safe online.
For more information, visit the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library Facebook page by going here.
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