Virtual Resources Librarian Diana Platt says when an older patron reached out to ask if the Library offered training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) — how to use it, recognize it, and avoid being tricked by it — she noticed a gap in resources. So, she started looking for ways to address it. 

Starting November 1, the Library launched a new service: an online platform for adults ages 55 and older called GetSetup. The company Gale provides an adult learning suite and partnered with GetSetUp to bring their live and on-demand online classes to libraries across the country.  

“We already are an established customer with Gale, and when we saw that (GetSetUp), I was like, ‘I bet they have AI classes,’” Platt says. “And they sure do, along with so much other stuff that when we started looking into it, we were like, ‘This is great.’” 

Up to 300 online classes are available on the site at a time, with new ones added each month. Topics include the arts, finances, cooking, and travel, as well as health and wellness, fitness, technology, and Medicare.  

Titles on the November roster include “Find Calm Through Stretching,” “What to Do With Thanksgiving Leftovers,” “Art Bites: 20 Minute Picasso,” “Essential Tips for Smooth International Travel,” and “How to Get Extra Help for Your Medicare Prescription Drugs.” 

Classes are available in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Mandarin, and vary from short sessions of 15 to 30 minutes to up to one hour.   

Platt says online classes are scheduled for specific dates and times (often with multiple listings), which meets requests by seniors to “have something they can build into their schedule.” 

She adds, “I just thought that was really kind of insightful. I think that's a great option for people, even if they aren't able to attend live, they can still do the on-demand class afterwards.” 

GetSetUp offers live classes where online participants can interact with instructors and classmates, as well as community sessions addressing topics such as decluttering, gratitude, and fitness. These sessions provide an opportunity for people to connect with others who share their interests and goals. 

On-demand classes, including interactive options in the video library, can be watched (or rewatched) at any time. And short, bite-sized articles are also available on the site.  

Lawrence Kosick, president and co-founder of GetSetUp, hopes the program will have a “significant impact” on the lives of seniors. 

“By providing easily accessible opportunities for physical, mental, and social growth,” he said in a news release, “we deliver the skills and knowledge that older adults need to participate in their communities with a renewed sense of joy, purpose, and fulfillment.”