CURRENT POSITION Senior Librarian, Yorba Linda Public Library, CA DEGREE MLIS, San José State University, 2013 FAST FACT Young finds joy in the performing arts, loves to dance, and has a special affinity for tap dancing. FOLLOW ylpl.org; bit.ly/CheckOutAGuitar; ylpl.org/things Photo by Natalynne Tran

Lessening Loneliness

Last year, 17 percent of all American adults reported experiencing daily loneliness, sociopolitical and economic anxiety, and reduced mental wellness. Because older adults—who constitute 15 percent of the American population, projected to reach over 20 percent by 2030—are often overlooked in regular library programming, Jessica Young intentionally advocates for their inclusion at Yorba Linda Public Library (YLPL). She mentors new librarians to do the same.

In 2015, Young secured an $11,000 grant to expand YLPL’s Library of Things with a music-lending collection and programs to foster music and art instruction, DIY classes, and educational lectures. She pushed for a dedicated adult programming space, the DIY Studio, which allowed the library to increase the number of programs offered. Since she stepped into her current role in 2020, Young has presented 400 daytime and evening adult programs, welcoming more than 8,500 participants, and has secured or played a direct role in allocating over $110,000 in grants for the library since 2013.

Reading competitions, crafts, and DIY events help improve cognitive health, strengthen connections to the library, and encourage self-care. Young’s work has helped her adult community improve their mental well-being.

“As we get older, the opportunity to meet people and develop friendships often dwindles,” Young says. “It is here, inside the library, that patrons are able to make new connections and reduce their sense of loneliness.”