{"data":{"id":"22c20410-d262-452d-ac01-2af78c7f1bee","updated_at":"2024-04-09T15:31:35Z","template_id":"73046548-86ec-431a-aca0-75b53bc936f3","localized":{"blocks":[{"id":"c4b1bc4d-2fc6-47fe-9eaf-4fc3356edd44","kind":"richtext","content_html":"

To kick start my 60 before 60 Project, I thought I’d ease into it and begin with something pretty easy and likely something anyone could do.

Go to the library.

There are more than 125,000 libraries in the United States and an estimated 3,350 public libraries in Canada. With an estimated total population in North America of 371 million, some very simple math would say that works out to about 2,900 people per each library. And in the US, the average distance to a library for someone is just 2.1 miles away.

All this to say, chances are very high there is a library near you.

There was a new library built in our community just before the pandemic and I have never actually visited it. I’ve driven past it many times and thought about going to check it out but never actually did.

So I went into the library.

To my surprise, it was not just a bunch of books, references and the dewey decimal system. It's not even that quiet anymore. There was a game room with air hockey and foosball, single and group working pods, a quiet workspace, magazines (remember those) and many spaces to just to sit, relax and think. They had tablets you could borrow onsite and internet access available.

I spoke to the Librarian about the services they offered and was pleasantly surprised to find that they have numerous events you can attend.

For example, at this library alone they had speakers on different cultural topics, visiting authors, the opportunity to learn a new board game, movie screenings, sing-a-longs for kids – and that’s just a small example of what was happening over the next month.

The wonderful thing about libraries is that they provide access to resources for everyone.

Age, income, ethnicity or physical ability - it doesn’t matter. It’s one of the few places in each community where anyone can go and get access to resources, information and knowledge.

Libraries are promotors of literacy and the love of reading. They are also now becoming community hubs for events and people to join together.

So as I walk away from this experience, I have a renewed respect for the library. It’s not just a place of books, they are evolving into so much more.

And I need to check their calendar as there may be some ideas of some things I can add to my 60 Before 60 list!

My 60 Before 60 Lesson: Don't assume places remain the same way you remembered them. Everything evolves.

"},{"id":"323faa45-555c-4544-b167-a413d7a25b93","image":{"type":"image","url":"https://assets.boomingencore.omerloclients.com/c5ef875b2d698ca62e4003ed63c6403c369e8096e3c15d122603fc08fd84ca06.jpg?","gravity":"center","caption_html":null,"credit":null,"caption_text":null},"kind":"image"},{"id":"1fbf215f-e771-41ee-945f-129ed9dd6857","kind":"richtext","content_html":"

Check Out My Next 60 Before 60: I Go Off the Beaten Path

"},{"id":"676f06d2-9973-48f4-bc00-b4d88ea15881","kind":"richtext","content_html":"

On her 59th birthday, Booming Encore's Founder - Susan Williams took a look back over the past couple of years and realized that her life needed a bit of a shake up. So she decided to do 60 different things before she turns 60 next year. She shares her progress and experiences for her 60 Before 60 Project.

"}],"locale":"en","visual":{"type":"image","url":"https://assets.boomingencore.omerloclients.com/5b339cc4ebd9948aa2acf8f6450687fd247f9d0e08d5c57ab63042f8818c0d0d.jpg?","gravity":"center","caption_html":null,"credit":null,"caption_text":null},"lead_html":"To kick start my 60 before 60 Project, I thought I’d ease into it and begin with something pretty easy. Go to the library.","subtitle_html":null,"title_html":"60 Before 60 Project: #1 - Visit the Library","author_ids":["02f24fa6-c7a7-48fd-992e-c189d38cbec7"],"lead_text":"To kick start my 60 before 60 Project, I thought I’d ease into it and begin with something pretty easy. Go to the library.","seo":{"description":null,"title":null},"subtitle_text":null,"title_text":"60 Before 60 Project: #1 - Visit the Library"},"_links":{"template":"/api/public/docs/v2/templates/73046548-86ec-431a-aca0-75b53bc936f3","_self":"/api/public/docs/v2/contents/22c20410-d262-452d-ac01-2af78c7f1bee"},"canonical_domain":"boomingencore.com","published_at":"2022-11-17T00:00:00Z","category_ids":[],"visibility":null,"canonical_url":null,"show_published_at":false},"assocs":{"categories":{"1515aa8b-b46d-4cbf-8635-ecbddf1f34e2":{"id":"1515aa8b-b46d-4cbf-8635-ecbddf1f34e2","updated_at":"2024-03-06T16:55:39Z","localized":{"name":"CONTRIBUTORS","locale":"en"},"svg_icon":null}},"profiles":{"02f24fa6-c7a7-48fd-992e-c189d38cbec7":{"id":"02f24fa6-c7a7-48fd-992e-c189d38cbec7","kind":"person","updated_at":"2024-09-21T00:09:23Z","other_name":null,"localized":{"locale":"en","description_html":"

Susan Williams is the visionary founder of Booming Encore. With over 28 years of experience in corporate senior leadership and executive roles, she realized there was a significant gap in resources for those seeking a purposeful and healthy later life. Driven by her passion to make a difference, she decided that if she couldn't find it, she would create it and launched Booming Encore in 2013.

Since then, the Booming Encore has organically grown into a globally recognized authority on retirement, aging, and longevity. Susan’s commitment to empowering individuals is further reflected in her co-authorship of Retirement Heaven or Hell: Which Will You Choose? and her contributions to Longevity Lifestyle by Design.

An engaging speaker and advocate, Susan passionately shares the importance of all the aspects that can help people positively live, embrace and contribute in their later years. Today, she’s not just helping others create their own “booming encore”—she is actually living hers. Join her on this inspiring journey and also live your best booming encore!

","description_text":"Susan Williams is the visionary founder of Booming Encore. With over 28 years of experience in corporate senior leadership and executive roles, she realized there was a significant gap in resources for those seeking a purposeful and healthy later life. Driven by her passion to make a difference, she decided that if she couldn't find it, she would create it and launched Booming Encore in 2013.Since then, the Booming Encore has organically grown into a globally recognized authority on retirement, aging, and longevity. Susan’s commitment to empowering individuals is further reflected in her co-authorship of Retirement Heaven or Hell: Which Will You Choose? and her contributions to Longevity Lifestyle by Design.An engaging speaker and advocate, Susan passionately shares the importance of all the aspects that can help people positively live, embrace and contribute in their later years. Today, she’s not just helping others create their own “booming encore”—she is actually living hers. Join her on this inspiring journey and also live your best booming encore!","summary_html":"

Founder, Booming Encore

","summary_text":"Founder, Booming Encore"},"profile_type_id":"9822821d-c96a-4ece-a318-c42ca4715c88","first_name":"Susan","last_name":"Williams","pronoun":null,"avatar_image_url":"https://assets.boomingencore.omerloclients.com/community/ed43bb2b-6424-4ae7-b162-7f389c6f1f20.jpg?"}}}}