FOLTulsa Fall 2017 Newsletter

@ your library Volume XXV Number One

A NEWSLETTER OF

Fall 2017

Can you read this?

by Carol Hoffman

I

Imagine not being able to read this newsletter, a book to your child, or even a simple comic strip. There are many Tulsans who are asking for a tutor from our library to help them learn to read.

You may think this is a noble idea but do not feel confident teaching an adult the basics of reading. The Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Program has excellent training opportunities for anyone willing to put in at least one hour a week to help someone learn English or basic reading skills.

You may also wonder if you would be a good match for someone in need. Cleo Berninger, literacy specialist, and the entire literacy staff do a great job of matching you with a person who can meet at a mutually agreed upon time and library location.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR TUTORS

A tutor must have patience, empathy and a willingness to complete eight hours of training. All tutors and prospective

“Today literacy is much more than the ability to check out the latest bestseller. It’s about being intellectually, culturally and electronically capable...As a 21st century library system, TCCL wants only the best for Tulsa’s future and that starts with literacy. Because a literate community is a dynamic community.”

— Kim Johnson

Tulsa City-County Library CEO

INSIDE:

President's Podium: What the goose knows page 2

Literacy tutor Steve Haas assists student BJ Ernst. New tutors are in demand to shorten the current waiting list. There are 101 active tutors serving 144 students with 17 students waiting for a tutor. students must pass a background check before being paired for learning. You are asked to commit to a year with a student, although most tutors stay connected much longer.

Steve Haas has been tutoring for 13 years and has been an encouragement to his basic-skills learner. Steve says, "I feel committed to working with him as long as he is willing to work.

He still has a desire to learn." Tutors in the program have also grown personally—from learning about another culture or seeing the thrill of a person whose life has changed immeasurably. I too, have been a tutor for the past 11 years and know the personal benefits of volunteering my time.

Now that you are ready to sign up, what do you do? Contact the literacy office at 918.584.7400, and ask when training sessions begin. Mark your calendar and begin the extremely rewarding task of helping someone enjoy the benefits of being able to read.

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Mayor to proclaim Nat. Friends of Libraries Week page 3

Books Sandwiched In programs run through Nov. 27 page 5

Meet the 2017 Distinguished Author Award recipient page 7

president’s podium What the goose knows

S

oon we’ll begin seeing flocks of geese slicing through our skies on their migratory path to warmer weather.

Why do they fly in a unique V formation?

Science tells us that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an updraft for the bird immediately following. This allows the flock to add at least 70 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

A goose out of formation uses more energy and effort to fly as it feels the drag and air resistance of trying to go it alone.

When the goose at the head of the V gets tired, it falls back in the formation and lets another goose take its place.

And here’s my favorite part. Geese honk from behind, not only to say “I’m here,” but to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. This constant communication makes the flock’s progress greater by motivating and strengthening those who are in the lead.

Summer scholarship recipients named CRYSTAL BROWNSTONE Customer Service Assistant, Central Library KAT LEFEVRE Assistant Manager, Martin Regional Library Our congratulations go out to Crystal and Kat!

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@ your library | Fall 2017

We’ve added 12 new, energetic, enthusiastic board members to our ranks this year. And combined with our sage and seasoned returning board members, we have a great group of high-flying leaders who are planning a host of new and exciting events for you.

One example: For the first time in our 60-year Friends history, we are holding a special event to celebrate National Friends of the Libraries Week, October 15-21. You are invited to participate in the festivities on October 16, when Mayor G.T. Bynum will read a proclamation from the steps of Central Library's grand staircase. For more information see the article on page 3.

and support, and would be very interested in hearing about any programming ideas you may have. We also extend an invitation to join our “V formation” as a handson volunteer with any of the many Friends programs.

Flying together. In a common direction.

With a sense of community.

We also have been invited to have a presence at upcoming Magic City Books events. This new venture, along with a menu of some old-Friend, some newFriend activities will be announced as scheduling is finalized early this fall.

Seems to me like the ideal way to get where we want to go.

Do you like where you see the Friends organization heading? If so, honk at us from behind! We welcome your encouragement

Debora Riggs Grillot 2017-2018 President, Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries

See you in the stacks. 

Library leaders honored with Pinnacle Awards

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ach year the YWCA and the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women work jointly to seek and select 10 women to honor with the Women of the Year— Pinnacle Awards.

Two of the ten who will be so honored are Kimberly Johnson, CEO of Tulsa City-County Library and Deborah Hunter, TCCL’s mental health case worker. They were selected from among 60 nominees and will receive this wonderfully deserved honor at a ceremony on March 8, 2018. Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries is so very proud of them, and send our congratulations along with those of the entire community.

The criteria considered in selection are women who “are role models in their profession, take risks on behalf of others, perform community service, and advocate for women’s issues,”—a direct quote from the website www.woty-pa.org. Visit it for more information about this prestigious award. 

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REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING TUTORING Any adult over the age of 16 goes through an assessment and interview process. If found to be below functional literacy level due to learning skills or having English as a second language, that person is eligible. Some adult students want to earn their HS equivalency or become a US citizen, others want to progress in their jobs by improving their reading. One of our students is a 76-year-old widow who decided it was time to learn to read.

FUNDING Ruth G. Hardman, a life-long local philanthropist, established an endowment to provide funding for the literacy program, and Chapters, an evening of authors reviewing their literary works, raises funds which benefit that endowment. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries and our own Tulsa City-County Library system help fund this program. The George Kaiser Family Foundation, Raymond and Bessie Kravis Foundation and Arvest Bank have all generously given to this endeavor. Even the Friends of the Library get involved by helping with refreshments for training sessions.

OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED Besides tutor training and matching learners with tutors, the staff also sponsors two unique programs. The Literacy Book Club for students meets once a month at the Literacy Office and has been highly successful, according to Cleo Berninger.

Books or audio books are provided through a grant for enrollees.

Cleo states that through discourse participants feel "safe to speak and be accepted" when "owning their voice." The second program offered is Conversation Circles. These are led by staff at various times and locations throughout our system at both day and evening times. Call 918.549.7400 for more information.

“Today literacy is much more than the ability to check out the latest bestseller,” says Kimberly Johnson, CEO of the Tulsa City-County Library. “It’s about being intellectually, culturally and electronically capable. From filling out job applications to navigating the Internet, literacy is critical to economic development as well as individual well-being. As a 21st-century library system, TCCL wants only the best for Tulsa’s future and that starts with literacy. Because a literate community is a dynamic community.”

Let's honor those who bravely seek help by providing a nonjudgmental, safe environment for learning.  Carol Hoffman (right) works with student Wei Zhang.

Mayor to recognize National Friends of Libraries Week on October 16

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ational Friends of Libraries Week (this year set for October 15-21) is a time when we acknowledge the wonderful work done by Friends groups in every American city with a library, including those in Tulsa County.

To kick off the week, Mayor G. T. Bynum will be reading a citywide proclamation from the grand staircase of Central Library at 5th Street and Denver. This will be on Monday, October 16, at 11:30 a.m., and everyone is invited to attend.

Learn all the ways Friends groups help the libraries and the reading public, and then browse for books or attend a Books Sandwiched In book review program. Catherine Gatchell, an FOL board member and member of Afghanistan Perceivers of Oklahoma, a club of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts, will be reviewing the Holmes mystery, The Beekeeper's Apprentice

by Laurie R. King. Her presentation will begin at 12:10 p.m. in Central’s Aaronson Auditorium.

Books Sandwiched In is a 50-year-old tradition in our city that attracts book lovers in the fall and spring of each year, and is just one of many programs sponsored by the Friends to enhance the literary life of Tulsa-area residents.

There are five branch libraries in the TCCL system with their own separate Friends groups who are also expected to take part during celebration week.

National Friends of Libraries Week has only been so designated for the past 11 years, and was begun by the American Library Association (ALA). Founded in October of 1876 in Philadelphia, the ALA assists librarians by sharing information and ideas and offering training. 

Fall 2017 | @ your library

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noteworthy news Spotlight: Zarrow Regional Library

by Sherry Leslie

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he West—West Tulsa, that is—is really wild and rocking with library activities for all generations and cultures.

A spacious ranch-like building, Zarrow Regional Library features a large meeting room, a children’s story room that looks like a train station, a double-sided fully operating fireplace with overstuffed chairs surrounding, and more: a computer classroom, a room for literacy tutors, a room for multi-media CDs, DVDs and extra computers and a special area housing the books, newspapers, journals and DVDs of the American Indian Resource Center (AIRC).

Throughout the library are beautiful paintings and prints by American Indian artists. Portraits of winners of the Festival of Words writers and Circle of Honor recipients are also displayed.

Teresa Runnels, director of the AIRC, works out of the library and is assistant manager.

Zarrow was the scene of a flourishing summer, according to Managing Librarian Ellen Cummings. Adult participation in the Summer Reading Program increased by 186 percent over last year, and teen participation increased by 59 percent. During June and July the library hosted Tulsa Public Schools Summer Café, a free lunch program for children up to 18 years old. The action continued throughout August with a party for the solar eclipse, Minecraft Night and a Kiowa Hymn singing event.

Outreach to a senior citizen’s home nearby is done by Emma Walker, generalist librarian, who walks down the block to read to a group of residents. Called Adult Story Time, she selects the reading from the short story genre and engages her group for about a half hour. Walker is also the authority on their 3D printer!

Zarrow Regional Library staff member Emma Walker lines up a telescope to the eclipse for patrons. Around 70 people enjoyed special glasses, moon pies and NASA website projections.

Community groups that love to use the building are many and varied, including the All Tribes Community Church, the West Tulsa Dulcimer Club, model train hobbyists and home schooling groups.

Tanzy Hilton, children’s associate, makes the children’s outreach shine with “Tuesday Tales,” regular story-time school visits to the new Clinton West Elementary and the new Jenks Elementary schools and Riverfield Country Day School. Jessica Hanley, youth librarian, does the same kind of outreach and programming for middle school through high school readers at Riverfield, Webster, Berryhill and Saint Catherine’s schools.

Among Zarrow Regional Library's many features are a digital lounge and housing for the American Indian Resource Center.

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@ your library | Fall 2017

This summer 25 adults showed up to learn embroidery during a “Build A Better World” activity. Fall and winter plans will include similar programs: short, do-it-yourself sessions on gardening, raising chickens, collecting and sharing seeds and bee keeping.

Also in the works are family make-and-take creative activities, Hobbitfest, and a class on making a will and drawing up other simple legal documents. 

OCT. 16: The Beekeeper's Apprentice, Laurie R. King This is the first book in King's growing mystery series about the dynamic partnership between Sherlock Holmes and a young protege, Mary Russell.

REVIEWER: Catherine Gatchell

Books Sandwiched In Monday book reviews

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hile the first review kicked off on October 2, these seven intriguing books and authors make up the remaining October and November sessions of Books Sandwiched In, celebrating its 50th year of reviewing, recommending, and discussing our favorite books.

Reviews will begin at 12:10 p.m. in Aaronson Auditorium on the lower level of Central Library. Complimentary coffee will be available. Sandwiches and other edibles can be purchased at Starbucks in Central's lobby or brought from home or office. 

Haven't visited the new Central Library yet?

Here's how to find Books Sandwiched In. 1. Park in the new 5-story parking garage which you can enter on either 4th or 5th Street. (Yes, 5th Street is now open to traffic in front of the library!) From there you want to find Aaronson Auditorium located on the lower level (L).

2. To get to level L, use the elevator located in the southeast

corner of the garage. Go straight to level L, or visit Starbucks on the first floor (marked on the elevator with a white star beside the “1”.) There will be a "friendly" Friends guide to help you from there. If you're on the first floor there are two elevators that both go to level L. Once in either of those elevators, push the button marked “L”.

Many people have come to the auditorium and already know the way. You will have lots of help getting there, getting back to the car, or going to floors with books, DVDs, research items, coffee and food. Just ask for help if you need it!

Note: Starbucks proceeds go directly to TCCL! There is usually a line to check out but it moves fast. Plan to come just before 12:00 noon if you want to purchase something to bring down to the auditorium. Be sure your drink has a lid securely closed. There is no eating allowed in other parts of the library. 

OCT. 23: Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann The true and shocking story of Oklahoma's Osage tribe, whose oil rights made them targets of systematic murders in the 1920s.

REVIEWER: Michael McBride

OCT. 30: Hillbilly Elegy, J.D. Vance The memoir of a man growing up in a small Rust Belt town that draws a portrait of a family and community filled with both humor and hopelessness.

REVIEWER: Dave Rader NOV. 6: Devotion, Adam Makos In honor of Veteran's Day, this is the true story of the friendship between Ensign Jesse Brown and Lieutenant Tom Hudner, Naval aviators during the Korean War. REVIEWER: Jim Holman NOV. 13: A Gentleman In Moscow, Amor Towles In 1920s Russia, the Bolshevik's strip a Count of his belongings and put him on house arrest inside the attic of a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.

REVIEWER: Joseph Bradley

NOV. 20: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules, Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg Unhappy with the management at their retirement home, a woman and her friends cook up a plan to steal art.

REVIEWER: Lisa Stefanic

NOV. 27: A Richard Ford Sampler Alexander will discuss the literary significance of the works of the Helmerich Distinguished Author Award recipient.

REVIEWER: Adrian Alexander Fall 2017 | @ your library

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Join the conversation with Richard Ford DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR RECIPIENT WRITES ABOUT NORMAL LIFE

by Wayne Hardy

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ovelist and short story writer Richard Ford has been named the 2017 recipient of the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award.

The annual award is given to an internationally acclaimed author who has written a distinguished body of work and has made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters. Named for prominent Tulsa library supporter and community philanthropist, Peggy V. Helmerich, the award consists of a cash prize of $40,000 and an engraved crystal book.

Of his work, Ford said, “I write about what scares me most.” As a child growing up in Mississippi, Ford suffered from dyslexia which he says may have helped him as a reader by forcing him to appreciate books at a slow and thoughtful pace.

Ford eschews the label of a Southern writer, yet he has much in common with another famous Mississippi author, and attended Davis Elementary, the same school as legendary author Eudora Welty, although years apart. They even had some of the same teachers. Ford lived across the street from Miss Welty. Later, he served as pallbearer at her funeral and literary executor of her works. Eudora Welty received the Helmerich Award in 1991.

Ford received a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine. His creative writing instructor and fellow quail hunter was E. L. Doctorow, the Helmerich winner in 1998.

Ford has been compared to Faulkner, Updike and Hemingway. His novel, Independence Day is the first book to win the Pulitzer and the PEN/Faulkner Award in the same year. His other awards include: The Rea Award for the Short Story, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, New York Times Best Book of the Year and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for fiction.

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@ your library | Fall 2017

The Paris Review calls Ford a “A master of the short story genre” as evidenced in his collections, Rock Springs, A Multitude of Sins, and Men With Women. His most recent work, Between Them is a poignant and loving memoir of his parents.

Ford has taught at the Oscar Wilde Centre with the School of English at Trinity College in Dublin, Columbia University School of the Arts, Princeton University and the University of Mississippi.

On Saturday, December 2, at 10:30 a.m. you can meet Richard Ford at Central Library, 5th & Denver, where he will speak, answer questions and sign books. The event is free and open to the public. 

There are numerous memorable quotes attributed to Ford. My particular favorite is: “If you lose all hope, you can always find it again.” Here are a few others.

"Your life is the blueprint you make after the building is built."

"Reading is probably what leads most writers to writing."

"Married life requires shared mysteries even when all the facts are known."

"I'm kind of a distracted guy."

Distinguished Author Award recipient and Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Ford will visit Tulsa December 1-2.

"I have a theory...that someplace at the heart of most compelling stories is something that doesn't make sense."

"Literature has as one of its principal allures that it tells you something about life that life itself can't tell you."

"I'm an equal opportunity reader."

"Since I was raised a Presbyterian, pretty much all pleasures are guilty."

"I think once you love somebody, you love somebody; that's just how it is."

Richard Ford events in December AWARD DINNER

PUBLIC PRESENTATION

Friday, December 1 | 6:30 p.m.

Central Library $175 per person. Contact Zoey at 918.549.7635 for reservations.

Saturday, December 2 | 10:30 a.m.

Central Library Free and open to the public.

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Summer Reading Program by the numbers

ongratulations to the City of Skiatook on winning the Summer Reading Program Mayoral Challenge, besting the cities of Broken Arrow, Collinsville and Tulsa! Skiatook’s Mayor David Sutherland accepted the challenge for his community and will take a pie in the face—all in good fun!

by Suanne Wymer

There are approximately 2,756 children ages 0 to 17 in Skiatook; of those, 935 participated with the 2017 Summer Reading Program. That’s 33.93% of their young people. Way to go!

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his summer, 52,855 adults and children ranging from newborns to teens participated in Tulsa City-County Library’s Summer Reading Program. This is an overall 4% increase over 2016 participation.

•

31,728 kids participated in the Children’s Summer Reading Program, a 6% decrease from 2016, but 54% of the children who participated this summer completed the program by reading 137,176 books, a 6% increase over 2016 completion.

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With 7,765 participants, the Teen Summer Reading Program had a 7% participation increase over 2016, with 50% of the teen participants reading 23,280 books to complete the program. This is a 1% increase over 2016.

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The 2017 Adult Summer Reading Program saw a 27% increase in participation over 2016. Of the 13,362 adult participants this summer, 44% read their four books, for a total of 23,264 books read. This is a 7% increase over the adult 2016 completion.

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Overall, 51% of the 52,855 participants completed the Summer Reading Program by reading a total of 371,340

books over a 10-week period. This is an increase of 13% over the number of books read in 2016.

TEEN TEAM PROGRAM For over 20 years, the library has offered 13-through-15 year olds a Teen Team volunteer opportunity. To participate in the program, interested teens complete a job application and are interviewed.

If they get the position, the new Teen Teamers attend training and orientation, are given their uniform (a Teen Team 2017 t-shirt) and schedule.

This summer, 396 teen volunteers worked 15,955 hours helping with the summer reading program. They gained valuable job experience by helping their local libraries, being on time for their scheduled work hours, and working with children and parents.

Their volunteer hours equate to $149,179 in wage savings for the library. FYI, many current TCCL staff started out as Teen Teamers!

membership matters

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hank you to all the Friends that have already renewed or joined for this year! Collectively, your memberships have provided $6,640 to support our programs!

We Need You to Renew or Join Today: We need more of you to renew or join Friends so we can reach our membership goal of $12,500. Whether you're a Bookworm, Avid Reader, Bibliophile, Library Lover or Library Champion, please renew or join Friends today so we can provide all the programs scheduled for this year.

We've made it easy for you to renew or join Friends. You can mail us a check using the enclosed membership envelope. Or you can pay by credit card online. Visit www.tulsalibrary.org/friends and click the link to pay online. You'll complete a membership form and then be directed to PayPal. Not sure if you've renewed this year? Contact Tara at 918.549.7419. 

$0

Raised: $6,640

53%

Goal: $12,500

Your Friends membership in action: •

Staff Scholarships and Training. Your membership provides staff with scholarships for continuing education and funds staff training days.

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Literacy. Your membership champions literacy through the First Book initiative that provides books to children from low-income families at Kendall Whittier Elementary, and through the library’s Summer Reading Program.

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Programs. Your membership provides opportunities for yourself and other Tulsa County residents to participate in fun and informative programs including Books Sandwiched In and the Adult Creative Writing Contest.

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Volunteer Recognition and Thank You. Your membership says "thank you" to every library volunteer across Tulsa County by supporting the annual volunteer recognition banquet hosted by the Friends.

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Advocacy. Your membership allows us to advocate on behalf of libraries in our community and across the state.

Fall 2017 | @ your library

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service spotlight 400 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 918.549.7419 tulsalibrary.org/friends

Editor: Sherry Leslie Contributors: Debora Riggs Grillot, Wayne Hardy, Carol Hoffman, Suanne Wymer Layout: Tara Farrar Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries (FOL) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to aid and promote the activities and goals of the Tulsa City-County Library. Its newsletter, @ your library, is published for members three times a year.

2017-18 Officers Debora Riggs Grillot, President Diane Pennington, 1st Vice President Sherry Leslie, 2nd Vice President Todd Dallenbach, Treasurer Linda Jenkins, Assistant Treasurer Mary Olzawski, Recording Secretary Lynn Peacher, Corresponding Secretary Glenna Anderson, Past President

2017-18 Board Members

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Check out these new and improved services and offerings from around the library.

AUTOMATIC RECHECK. If the book—or DVD, ebook, playaway or any other item—you have checked out is coming due and needs to be rechecked, the library Circulation Department will automatically do it for you. No more rechecking by email, speeding to the local branch, calling the hotline or cramming to finish a book before the deadline. Unless someone has your book “on hold," the library just rechecks it. An item may be rechecked up to a year if it’s not on hold for someone. If the library has your email address, it will email you what it calls a Summary of Your Account weekly. It tells you what you have checked out and if you have any fees.

TWO NEW BOOK CLUBS. Martin East Regional and Central have started new clubs. Martin is meeting on 2nd Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Central is alternating times and dates for a few months before deciding which is most popular.

NEW FREE MONTHLY NEWS. In the past, patrons received a magazine that included a monthly events guide and book reviews. There are now two separate publications: Book Page, and My Library. The first has 30 pages of book reviews and is distributed nationally from Nashville. The latter is an events guide, with around 20 pages of listings. They are both 9” by 11” size, which is easier to fold and carry.

EMAIL OF “WHAT’S NEW." Go to www.wowbrary.org and sign up to receive an email of newly purchased items. Have your email address and your library card number with you.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT. Whaaaat? There are eight of them on the two lowest levels of Central's parking garage, just inside the 4th and 5th Street entrances. They look like an ATM machine but they are for charging a hybrid or electric car. If you are Central Library or Starbucks customers, you may get zapped via those EVSEs. Energy is gathered via the solar panels on the roof of the library! TCCL is the recipient of a federal grant promoting good air quality that paid for the machines and for a new electric or hybrid library vehicle. The staff is still car shopping, reports Michael Leach, Facilities Manager.

FACEBOOK FRIENDLY. If you become Facebook friends with your favorite branch library, their posts will alert you of activities happening at the branch. Also posted by some branches are pictures of past events, facts about authors, new books, thoughtful discussions, and library answers to your questions.

You can also "friend" the entire system at “Tulsa City-County Library." That page posts “What’s New This Week in the Library System” every week, which is a list of just purchased books, journals, etc. 

CALENDAR

Laura Bottoms Lynda Brownson Laurie Brumbaugh Norman Bryant Doris Degner-Foster Eldon Eisenach Catherine Gatchell Donna Goodman Gretchen Hannefield Hussien Khattab Rita Kirk Dobie Langenkamp Katy Livingston Michael McBride Carolyn McClure Brenda Michael-Haggard Dorothy Minor Melanie Nelson Michael Nesser Elaine Olzawski Richard Parker Glad Platner Jan Reese Virginia Richard Debby Romig Karla Shahan Nancy Sies Travis Splawn Catherine Sprague Sally Stewart Farryl Stokes Stan Teter Su Waner

Always improving

BOOKS SANDWICHED IN Mondays, Oct. 2-Nov. 27 12:10 p.m. | Central Library NATIONAL FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES WEEK Oct. 15-21 FRIENDS WEEK PROCLAMATION WITH MAYOR G.T. BYNUM Monday, Oct. 16 11:30 a.m. | Central Library

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DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD DINNER Friday, Dec. 1 6:30 p.m. | Central Library DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR AWARD PUBLIC PRESENTATION Saturday, Dec. 2 10:30 a.m. | Central Library Visit tulsalibrary.org for a list of holiday closures.