Skip to page content
The Osborn The Osborn
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • News & Blog
888-609-7509 Request a Tour
  • Independent LivingExpand Independent Living section
    • Overview
    • Services & Amenities
    • Resident Programs
    • Dining
    • Wellness
    • What is a Life Plan Community?
    • Neighborhood
    • Future Residents Club
    • Residences Overview
    • Residence Features
    • Available Units
    • Floor Plans
    • Community Map
    • Pricing
    • Understanding the Cost
    • Cost Calculator
    • The Cost of Waiting
  • Health ServicesExpand Health Services section
    • Overview
    • Assisted Living
    • Skilled Nursing
    • Memory Care
    • Rehabilitation
  • Home CareExpand Home Care section
    • Overview
    • 5-Star Care
    • Westchester County, NY
    • Fairfield County, CT
    • FAQ
    • Resources
  • FoundationExpand Foundation section
    • Overview
    • What We Fund
    • Ways to Give
    • Community Relations
    • Foundation FAQ
    • Donate to The Osborn Foundation
    • Foundation Blog / Events
  • About The OsbornExpand About The Osborn section
    • Overview
    • Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Accreditations
    • Brochures
    • Gallery and Video
    • FAQ
The Osborn
Call us at 888-609-7509 Request a Tour
Home
  • Independent Living
  • Health Services
  • Home Care
  • Foundation
  • About The Osborn
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • News & Blog
  • Call us
Independent Living
  • Overview
  • Services & Amenities
  • Resident Programs
  • Dining
  • Wellness
  • What is a Life Plan Community?
  • Neighborhood
  • Future Residents Club
  • Residences Overview
    • Residence Features
    • Available Units
    • Floor Plans
    • Community Map
  • Pricing
    • Understanding the Cost
    • Cost Calculator
    • The Cost of Waiting
Health Services
  • Overview
  • Assisted Living
  • Skilled Nursing
  • Memory Care
  • Rehabilitation
Home Care
  • Overview
  • 5-Star Care
  • Westchester County, NY
  • Fairfield County, CT
  • FAQ
  • Resources
Foundation
  • Overview
  • What We Fund
  • Ways to Give
  • Community Relations
  • Foundation FAQ
  • Donate to The Osborn Foundation
  • Foundation Blog / Events
About The Osborn
  • Overview
  • Leadership
  • Board of Trustees
  • Accreditations
  • Brochures
  • Gallery and Video
  • FAQ
The Osborn The Osborn
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • News & Blog
888-609-7509 Request a Tour
Page Content
Back to Blog
Previous Post Next Post

February Is Library Lovers Month

February 15, 2020
Library for seniors

~ by Carol Vartuli

In the age of the Internet, we might expect fewer people to borrow books from libraries. On the contrary, Americans continue to love their public libraries.

According to The Institute of Museum and Library Services, Americans made 1.4 billion in-person visits to public libraries across the United States in 2016, the equivalent of four million visits each day, or 2,664 every minute.

In fact, people frequent libraries more often than they go to the movies, according to the Motion Picture Association of America. And, incredibly, more people attend public library events than all Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association games combined.

In the United States, libraries outnumber the seemingly ubiquitous Starbucks coffee shops. There are 16,568 public libraries, including branches (Public Library Survey), compared to 14,606 corporate and licensed Starbucks locations (Starbucks Corporate Customer Relations).

Americans’ affection for their libraries is fittingly celebrated on February 14, National Library Lovers’ Day. In fact, the whole month of February is a celebration of Library Lovers.

Osborn residents are library lovers, too

There are 170 active patrons of The Osborn Library, representing 60 percent of The Osborn’s independent and assisted living residents. They enjoy three Osborn Library branches on campus.

The recently-renovated Adams Library houses regular and large print books of fiction, non-fiction, and biographies, and includes a glass-walled, four-seasons reading room which faces out to our gorgeous South Lawn and honors former Board Chair William W. Mauritz. Magazines are available, as are daily copies of The New York Times, The Journal News, and The Wall Street Journal.

The Dalphin Library is also located in the Osborn building, and contains non-fiction, biographies, and an extensive collection of art books.

Sterling Park at The Osborn is home to the 3000 Library, with its collection of large and regular print fiction, magazines, and newspapers.

A branch on the Westchester Library System tree

The Osborn Library is a branch of the Rye Free Reading Room, and, therefore, of the Westchester Library System (WLS). Osborn residents, staff, and neighbors have access to all the books and materials available throughout Westchester County, NY. Even audiobooks are available on campus when ordered from WLS.

Professional librarian Marjorie Shapiro tends The Osborn libraries and runs a monthly book group that is open to all. Library Committee volunteers assist her, and select the books to purchase each month.

Osborn residents are avid readers. According to Ms. Shapiro, one of her regulars is a 107 year-old who reads a book a week.

Ms. Shapiro enjoys getting to know her patrons and facilitating their reading habits. One service she provides is helping individuals with vision issues gain access to New York State Talking Books and Braille. This makes it possible for them to order books consolidated on a single cassette, so they don’t have to handle or read small labels on multiple cassettes.

A digital reading device, like a Kindle or Nook, can also be a boon to older readers. Not only do they weigh a fraction of a hardcover print book, but their backlit, non-glare screens and adjustable type makes the “print” size perfect for the reader. Device users can purchase digital books, but the library loans digital books as well.

Ways to celebrate your love of libraries

To demonstrate your library love this February, consider:

  • Getting a library card if you do not have one, or encouraging friends and family members to get one, so they can explore the wealth of options available
  • Visiting your library and taking home a book
  • Enjoying quiet camaraderie with like-minded neighbors, while you read a magazine, newspaper, or book
  • Stopping at one of the Osborn Library locations to wish your librarian, Marjorie, a “Happy Library Lovers’ Month”
  • Volunteering to help out at your library

This month, when you see Valentine’s hearts all around you, remember that February is not just for lovers. It’s also for Library Lovers.

More Posts

  • How Gardening Boosts Wellness, Strength, and Purpose for Seniors

    May 15, 2025

    There’s something timeless about tending to a garden. The feel of the soil, the rhythm of planting and watering, the quiet reward of seeing things grow, all have a way of slowing us down, grounding...

  • The Benefits of Senior Rehabilitation: Regaining Strength, Confidence, and Independence

    April 15, 2025

    Aging gracefully means adapting to life’s changes—but sometimes, those changes involve a health setback that affects how you feel day to day. Whether from an illness, injury, or surgery...

  • International Women's Month

    March 15, 2025

    ~ by Carol Vartuli

    A March Challenge

    Who originated the concept of a cotton gin and helped solve the mechanical problems encountered by patent-holder Eli Whitney (1794...

More From the Blog

Request a Tour

This form is for use by individuals seeking information about Osborn or Osborn Home Care services ONLY. Please do not use this form for any other correspondence. Before submitting an information request please note the following:

  1. The Osborn is not a provider of low income/subsidized housing programs.
  2. The Osborn and Osborn Home Care are not Medicaid service providers.
  3. Current job openings and employment applications are posted on our careers page. Please do not use this form for employment questions.
  4. Any other question can be referred to marketing@theosborn.org

This form is for use by individuals seeking information about Osborn or Osborn Home Care services ONLY. Please do not use this form for any other correspondence. Before submitting an information request please note the following:

  1. The Osborn is not a provider of low income/subsidized housing programs.
  2. The Osborn and Osborn Home Care are not Medicaid service providers.
  3. Current job openings and employment applications are posted on our careers page. Please do not use this form for employment questions.
  4. Any other question can be referred to marketing@theosborn.org
Learn about Careers at the Osborn
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About
  • Events
  • News & Blog
  • Contact
  • Pricing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Donate
  • Careers
US News Best Nursing Homes - Long-Term Care 2025 US News Best Nursing Homes - Short-Term Rehabilitation 2025 Newsweek America's Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities 2024
The Osborn 101 Theall Rd Rye, NY 10580 914-201-9500
2024 CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Overall Rating 3 Stars Health Inspection 3 Stars Staffing 4 Stars Quality Measures 4 Stars
© 2025 The Osborn All Rights Reserved
The Osborn is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a member of Novare.org
Equal Housing Opportunity
Wheelchair Accessible
Pet Friendly
Programmed and Managed by Piszko Design