Is Cranky Dead?

Many of you are aware of Cranky, the first age relevant search engine. I have used it at demonstrations and workshop presentations for over a year. Beginning in October 2008, I could no longer get any results from a search. I tried it on several computers but to no avail. Finally, I submitted a questions to Cranky (Eons), and after several weeks this is the response:

"Thank you for writing to the Eons Help Team. Currently, the Help Team is experiencing an unusually high number of help requests. We are sorry for the delay in getting back to you and really appreciate your patience.

Eons is contemplating how best to use the Cranky.com site, but for the time being we have temporarily suspended its functionality. We apologize for the inconvenience. I will forward your desire to use the search engine to our Product Team. Thank you for your message!"

So, in my opinion not a great way to run a search engine! What do you think? Should they bring Cranky back?

Alzheimer's Poetry Project

Sitting in the doctor's office yesterday, I picked up the latest edition of Caregiver's Magazine. In it was a short article on the Alzheimer's Poetry Project: Sparking Memories With Poetry.

"The Alzheimer’s Poetry Project is a simple idea: read classic poems to the patients that they might have learned as children. APP finds, even in the late stages of the disease, that people can remember words and lines from poems from their youth. Reciting poetry helps spark memories."

When I was at the Service to the Aging Program of the Brooklyn Public Library, we developed a program called "Words and Memories," which uses poetry, song and story to "help spark memories." So, even after 15 years we were on the right track.

Library staff that provides programming to nursing homes are often the unsung heroes of the staff. This is not an easy job to do. I know for I have done it almost my entire library career. But the enthusiasm from the residents make it all worthwhile. Doesn't it?

You can contact the Alzheimer's Poetry Project as follows:

Contact APP

Please direct all inquiries to:

Gary Glazner
Founder and Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Poetry Project
310 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
gary@alzpoetry.org

"Libraries, Older Adults and Technology" October 2008

"Libraries, Older Adults and Technology," was a series of workshops which I presented during October 2008 sponsored by the State Library of Missouri. Here pictured are the group photo from our session in Warrenburg, MO. The complete presentations are now loaded and can be found on slideshare.net along with additional presentation. To look and download the presentations, click here.