From Catalog Cards to Custom Databases: How Donor Support Brought a Resident’s Vision to Life at Valley Manor

At Episcopal SeniorLife Communities (ESLC), we believe that aging is not just about care—it’s about purpose, possibility and community. Thanks to donor support, that vision is coming to life every day.

One example comes from Susan Greene, resident of Valley Manor, who is leading a project to create a custom database for the community’s library. The inspiration for this project began during a resident meeting, when concerns were raised about the outdated catalog system. Susan saw an opportunity to make a difference and volunteered to help.

Her work with Filemaker databases started during her graduate studies in historic textiles at Cornell. That experience laid the foundation for her lifelong use of Filemaker. It was essential in organizing data for her book Wearable Prints, 1760–1860: History, Materials, and Mechanics. Now, she’s putting that knowledge to work at Valley Manor.

With the support of donors, the Foundation was able to grant funding to Valley Manor to purchase a MacBook and FileMaker software. These tools are essential for Susan to design a custom database from scratch with her goal to make managing the library intuitive and efficient.

Susan’s expertise comes through in the details of her database, from the user layout to information placement and even the font and nomenclature used, the database is functional and user-friendly, with layers of information that make it easy to find what’s needed at a glance. More than simply an organizational tool, Susan has implemented templates to create catalog cards, check out cards, spine labels and more. A once labor-intensive process has now become streamlined.

The project is still in its early stages, and Susan is currently working her way through the “B” section of the catalog. She plans to ensure the future of the library by sharing her knowledge and training other residents.

This innovative and meaningful work is just one example of how donations to ESLC’s Foundation directly enrich the lives of residents. Thanks to your support, we’re able to say “yes” to creative projects like Susan’s!

Learn how you can make a difference: EpiscopalSeniorLife.org/giving