Friends of TCCL Summer 2018 Newsletter

@your library Volume XXV Number Four

A NEWSLETTER OF

Summer 2018

Rock your summer with books and activities

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by Rebecca Harrison

ulsa County has begun its annual Summer Reading Program and those who register and complete the reading

by August 4 will be rewarded with free coupons for local attractions, such as the zoo and the Tulsa State Fair, free food, and fun. Adults need to read or listen to only four books, but youth and children will go for more! Everyone in your household will benefit—so sign up at your nearest branch.

Special activities for adults revolve around the theme “Libraries Rock” by focusing on our love for music. Discussion of Bob Dylan, a great composer and singer who has honored Tulsa with his archives, will be led by Michael Chaiken, curator of the archive, on Tuesday, July 24, 7-8:30 p.m. To prepare, read Dylan’s memoir Chronicles. This takes place at Central in the Greadington Center.

Intro to Dance Nights and dance lessons will be offered on Monday evenings in July in the spacious Greadington Center.

These are free of cost and of judgmental laughter, but you should

JULY 24

An Evening of Discussion: Bob Dylan's Chronicles Central Library | 7-8:30 p.m.

Join Michael Chaiken, curator of the Dylan Archive, for a lively and thought-provoking discussion. Participants are encouraged to read Chronicles prior to the event.

bring a partner. Registration is required by phone at 918.549.7323 or at tulsalibrary.org/events. Rock your Mondays when practicing the waltz, salsa, the bachata, and swing dance.

There are too many amazing summer children, youth and teen activities to mention! Grab a summer edition of the My Library event guide at any branch for more event listings. 

JULY 9, 23

Music Sandwiched In

Central Library | noon-12:50 p.m.

JULY 9, 16, 23, 30 Intro to Dance

Central Library | 6-7 p.m.

JULY 6, 13, 20, 27, AUGUST 3 Write to the Rhythm

JULY 11

Movies in the Garden

Central Library | 7-9 p.m.

Join us for High Fidelity in the garden on July 11. Enjoy free popcorn! Bring a chair or blanket. Rated R.

INSIDE:

Visitors enjoy a twilight movie in the garden at Central Library.

President's Podium: Royal treatment when you renew page 2

Creative writing contest winners honored page 4

Hardesty Library | 3:30-5 p.m.

Whether you write songs, poetry, short stories or novels, come and write with us! Each week will feature a different style and tone of music to inspire your creativity.

Spotlight: Herman and Kate Kaiser Library page 5

Library volunteers recognized page 6

PRESIDENT’S PODIUM Royal treatment when you renew

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n the heels of the recent wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, we'd like to pop the question: Would you make us the happiest of folks and renew your Friends membership for the coming year? Here is our vow: We will work for libraries and the people enjoying them. We will care for librarians. We will encourage reading and writing. We will send you news and notices about events.

We cherish all of our members, including you! Be sure to check out one of the ways we're giving you the royal treatment with our current giveaway offer. You have until September 1 to be entered!

Our wonderful library system is proud to have 23 neighborhood branches in Tulsa County. The last two to be constructed opened in the same year, 2008—the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library in LaFortune Park, and the Judy Z. Kishner Library in Sperry. Also built that year was

Did you know?

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hen Tulsa City-County Library had over 600 customer surveys to input for review, who did they call on? The Friends!

Library leaders wanted to hear from people in Tulsa County who either have no library card or have not used theirs in some time. A survey was created and mailed to them with the hope of understanding and meeting their needs. Within weeks hundreds of surveys of useful feedback were collected.

Over the span of two weeks, Friends volunteers had put in about 20 hours of time to enter the survey data, in time for library leadership to utilize during their annual retreat! 

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@your library | Summer 2018

the Connor’s Cove Children’s Theater at Hardesty Regional Library. We celebrate their 10 years and take a second look at two of these gorgeous spaces—the Kaiser and the Kishner—and their unique contributions to TCCL. LaFortune Park, located in busy midtown Tulsa at 51st and Yale, is the home of a very popular set of playgrounds, the only lighted golf course in the area, a superb tennis center, and Memorial High School.

A community center with meeting rooms and more is located in the park near the tennis center. Kaiser Library is located adjacent to the community center.

Sperry, Oklahoma is a community of around 1,000 people, most of whom drive into Tulsa for work and love returning to the quiet and natural beauty of small-town living. A builder in the Sperry area, Jim Roberts, built the lovely space with wide porches and exposed beams in the high ceilings of the main room. Outside, a small

park area currently houses bird feeders and a path leading to a lighted bike trail that goes all the way into Tulsa.

In this newsletter we spotlight the Kaiser Library and in our October issue we will spotlight the Kishner Library.

Enjoy this newsletter issue and join me in another great year with Friends! 

Sherry Leslie 2018-2019 President, Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries

Spring scholarships awarded

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e always like to take the time to acknowledge those TCCL staff who were awarded scholarships to aid in their continuing education through the Friends' scholarship program. Beginning this year, the Friends are exclusively awarding gifts to undergraduate students, while graduate students are eligible for the library's new Tuition Reimbursement Program. The following library staff received awards for hours completed during the winter/spring term 2018:

Raquel Garcia, Customer Service Assistant, Central Library Circulation, studies at Tulsa Community College.

Mary Green, Lead Customer Service Assistant, Bixby Library, studies at Rogers State University.

Jennifer Parrish, Customer Service Assistant, Hardesty Library, studies at Tulsa Community College.

Eric Tackett, Customer Service Assistant, Central Library Children’s Department, studies at Tulsa Community College.

Friends of the Rudisill Library also awarded two scholarships. Their recipients were Manal Abu Sheikh and Adrienne Teague, of Helmerich and Rudisill libraries. 

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Keep calm...and join Friends today.

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he royal wedding frenzy may be settling down, but we're still abuzz about all things British, like the recent announcement that Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Hilary Mantel, would be the next recipient of the Helmerich Distinguished Author Award. The author of Wolf Hall and two-time Man Booker Prize winner will be in Tulsa this December to accept the award.

To kick off our 2018-2019 membership campaign, we're offering a chance to win tickets to the event when you join or renew today.

Lifetime Members—you'll be entered as well when you make a donation to Friends in any amount by September 1.

Show your love of libraries by being a Friend. While we can't offer you a knighthood, you will receive great Friends benefits including early notice of our engaging programs and the @your library newsletter delivered to your mailbox! As always, your membership is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. 



Your Friends membership in action:

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

•

Literacy. Your membership champions literacy through the Summer Reading Program and the First Book initiative that provides books to children from low-income families.

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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.

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

Your generous membership support will keep these activities going over the next 12 months and beyond!



•

Prince Charles and Dame Hilary Mantel.

Win two tickets to the Helmerich Author Award RENEW your membership by September 1...

BECOME A NEW member by September 1...

MAKE A DONATION by September 1... ...and you'll be entered to win two tickets to the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award dinner honoring Dame Hilary Mantel on Friday, December 7.

(A $350 value!)

To renew your membership, to join, or to make a donation, return the enclosed envelope by mail or visit us at tulsalibrary.org/friends to pay by credit card.

Summer 2018 | @your library

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NOTEWORTHY NEWS Honest writing abounds at awards ceremony

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by Sherry Leslie

inners of the 2018 Adult Creative Writing Contest were presented in a public award ceremony in May and the audience enjoyed hearing samples of their works.

Julia Thomas, author of Penhale Wood and The English Boys, was the keynote speaker, emphasizing the courage to take risks and incorporate criticism into the life-long development of the writing craft.

First Place poetry winner Sue Storts shared the photo that inspired her while reading her personal poem on aging, Ekphrastic Selfie Poem. Other poetry winners were, Second Place: Rebecca Howard, for Not a Love Poem

and Honorable Mentions to Autumn Slaughter, Jackie Smith, Beverly Strader, and Ann Weisman.

Children's Fiction winners are, First Place: Barbara Whitesell, Pinky the Cow Goes to Hollywoods; Second Place: Sherri Goodall, A Leap of Leopards. Barbara wrote Pinky for her grandchildren to combat bullying.

Informal Essay winners are, First Place: Sandy Hall, for You Are Not Alone; Second Place: Dianne Morrow-Kondos, for Invisible Shackles. Honorable Mentions are Joey DeLeon and Jennifer Tatum.

Short Story winners are, First Place: Erin

Fuller, for Monochrome; Second Place: Bridget Riley Alexander, for The Life and Times of Don. Honorable Mentions are awarded to Katherine Baltes, Aubrey Green and Dillon O’Carroll.

Julia Thomas shared generously her experiences through the years of writing.

First, read books by acclaimed authors— the classics and prize-winning books will teach all the techniques and ingredients of plot and expression. But nothing is more important than to select the genre, topics, settings, and characters that give the writer enough pleasure to keep to the task. Publishers may turn down a book; take the criticism and use it to improve. 

Clockwise: Committee members Mary Olzawski and Diane Pennington greet guests at the ceremony; Winner Rebecca Howard with keynote speaker Julia Thomas, Will Thomas and Joy Kelly; Creative Writing professor Sloan Davis emcees the event; Guests snap photos with Julia Thomas; Sue Storts reads her winning poem; Winners of the Informal Essay category accept their certificates.

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@your library | Summer 2018

Literacy fundraiser returns in Sept.

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by Jennifer Wells

ark your calendars now so you won’t miss Chapters 2018 on Thursday, September 20. The annual benefit for the Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service will take place at the Hardesty Regional Library at 6:30 p.m.

Ally Carter is the New York Times bestselling author of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls series. She lives in Oklahoma, where she's busy masterminding her next big heist. Her most recent book is Not If I Save You First, a young adult thriller set primarily in Alaska.

Hardesty Library is shut down early and becomes a giant party of books and food. Local restaurants donate food and beverages, and three authors come to discuss their books and writing.

Sasha Martin is an award-winning writer and blogger whose first book, Life From Scratch, chronicles her lifelong struggle to find inner peace, including the years she spent cooking cuisine from around the world as a new mother. Her website, Global Table Adventure, is a go-to hub for foodies around the world.

The proceeds of Chapters go to support one-on-one tutoring, classes, and computer education for adults who struggle with basic literacy and/or English by providing funds for staff and materials to assist over 200 adult learners in Tulsa County each year.

Tickets are $50 for the evening of food, beverages, and fun.

For more information or to reserve your tickets, please call 918.549.7494. Copies of the authors’ books will be available for purchase and signing.

Beatriz Williams is the New York Times bestselling author of A Hundred Summers, The Secret Life of Violet Grant, Along the Infinite Sea, A Certain Age, and several other works of historical fiction.

Beatriz’s books have won numerous awards, been translated into more than a dozen languages, and appear regularly in bestseller lists around the world. 

Spotlight: Herman and Kate Kaiser Library

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by Carolyn McClure

t’s hard to imagine a more appealing location or library than the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library. In the middle of Lafortune Park, relaxing views of water, wildlife, and trees greet patrons from large windows etched with butterflies.

Gardens outside a window seat feature bronzes, On the Road with Mother Goose by Diane Mason and Rabbit Tales by George Gerber.

Inside are bronze busts of Herman and Kate Kaiser sculpted by Rosalind Cook. The library bustles with people of all ages involved in many activities. Child-sized tables, chairs, children’s books, and a variety of playthings attract children and their caretakers.

Patrons browse books and electronic media throughout the floor, which can hold 50,000 materials. Many 30 to 40 year olds stop in while out on a walk around the park.

During my visit tables throughout the library were in use by an electronic chess gamer, another by a student taking notes from a large textbook while listening to music, and a third by friends sipping coffee and talking. A teenager lounged close to the fireplace. Most of the 16 public computers were humming with activity. WiFi is available throughout the building.

Library Manager Jason Patteson graciously fielded several questions from me for this article. When asked what was unique about the Kaiser branch, he immediately replied that the library’s namesakes Herman and Kate Kaiser and their indomitable spirit of giving, make this branch distinctive. From the library's website: "Herman George Kaiser (1904-1992) and Kate Kaiser (19101987)...fled Nazi Germany in 1938, going first to England and then to the United States. Their immigration was made possible by their Uncle Sam Miller, who sponsored their journey to Tulsa

Light fills the Herman and Kate Kaiser Library, located at 5202 S. Hudson Ave., through its expansive windows. The library boasts incredible views of LaFortune Park. in 1940...The Tulsa community remembers Kate as a hands-on volunteer at the Center for he Physically Limited, and Herman for his leadership as President of Congregation B’nai Emunah.

Along with countless other philanthropic contributions, Kate and Herman gave limitlessly of themselves."

Jason also mentioned two other unique features: First, that the Kaiser branch was completely funded through a Tulsa Library Trust capital campaign of private donors; second, the entranceway to the library displays an international doll collection, donated as a permanent part of the library branch.

Over 2000 dolls must be rotated twice a year. Herman and Kate Kaiser Library is a treat everyone should experience. Drop in soon and enjoy it! 

Summer 2018 | @your library

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Volunteers gather to celebrate service to TCCL

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by Sherry Leslie

ights! Cameras! Music!...And dogs!

When there's a parade of dogs with their trainers in tow, it can mean nothing other than the annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration. That and even more became a feast for the eyes and ears of volunteers from almost every library branch, Literacy Services, PAWS for Reading, and those working with the Friends and the Tulsa Library Trust.

Every April those who have served the library without pay are applauded, given certificates and thoughtful gifts. Presenters include librarians, the Literacy staff, the Friends president, and the library CEO and chairman of the Library Commission.

Among the many volunteers honored were: Stan Teter (of the Friends board!) and Peggy Selman for giving 20 years of volunteer service; Laurel England, Nancy Holliday, Lila Martini, and Sue Parker for volunteering the past 15 years. Eight people were honored for serving for 10 years, and another 29 people have volunteered for 5 years. Denise Herd, Sally Harris, Mary Beth Soard, and Joanne Yarwood have given 1000 -5000 hours.

Certificates were also awarded for those at 250, 500 and 750 hours of service. ď ź

Volunteering By the Numbers VOLUNTEERS:

848 people (and dogs.)

HOURS CONTRIBUTED: 30,014

SAVINGS TO LIBRARY:

$817,269, or the equivalent of 17 full-time employees.

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@your library | Summer 2018

Volunteer Services Supervisor Tara Harris acknowledges the many hours of volunteer service to TCCL.

Commission Chairman Bill Peacher and CEO Kim Johnson honor Marty Laughlin with the first annual Dee McBride Award for the most hours of service. Marty has given over 13,500 hours to Literacy Services. Dee McBride was a long-time volunteer who passed away in late 2017. She was a dear friend of many and a generous, faithful worker.

Above: Ros Elder looks on as she's introduced as the 2018 recipient of the Trust's Marcus R. Tower Award for her dedication to adult tutoring.

Below: The Friends enjoy putting together a generous spread for the guests.

Above: Guests always enjoy getting to mingle with the PAWS for Reading program dogs.

Below: Friends committee and board members come out to host the event and join in honoring volunteers.

Little libraries popping up near you

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by Glad Platner

ust a bit bigger than a breadbox, comes in a variety of colors and looks, is available in many accessible places, is free, and it can transport you anywhere in or out of this world. It's entertaining and enlightening, and it just might help you make a new friend. What is it? A little free library!

Tulsa has a number of little free libraries, and worldwide there are more than 20,000 in 70 countries. A little free library is a structure (usually a box on a post), generally located on private property, containing donated books protected from the weather.

Some have been erected outside of hospitals, schools, businesses, or just front yards. Anyone and everyone is invited to borrow the books, at no cost, no time limit, no requirement they be returned. But readers are asked to replenish the supply of books as possible. Books are not usually new.

In cooperation with the City of Tulsa, Transporting Education and Literacy into Open Spaces, Inc., or TELOS, Inc., a non-profit co-founded by Zuzana Chovanec and Stephanie Younis, has begun a program to bring little free libraries into Tulsa City parks.

Neighborhoods that would benefit from a nearby source of books will have priority, all for fun and and to improve Tulsa literacy

rates. Reading will be another activity for adults and children at the park.

The first little free library has recently been installed in Reed Park, 4233 S. Yukon.

Plans are to install the next little free library at Turner Park, near the University of Tulsa—in total 13 little free libraries in parks as funds become available.

Ralph Manis built this little library in This project provides the Tulsa's Point South neighborhood. structure and the initial stock of books, and will rely on the neighborhood to replenish book supplies and take care of the structure. Anyone interested in volunteering with this project is encouraged to contact Stephanie Younis at 918.304.1929 or stephanie.younis@outlook.com.

If you don’t find one in your neighborhood, take the plunge and put one in your own front yard! For information on how, go to littlefreelibrary.org for building plans, kits or pre-built libraries, to learn about permits and look at little free libraries worldwide. 

SERVICE SPOTLIGHT Library provides access to 3D printers

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by Sherry Leslie

ou've probably heard about any number of things that are being printed using new 3D printer technology, but did you know that there are 3D printers at Central, Hardesty, Rudisill and Zarrow Regional libraries that you can learn to use?

Anyone can use the printers after taking a training session from library staff and signing a liability release form. The only cost to you is for the polylactic filament, which can be purchased from the library, craft stores or online.

HOW DOES IT WORK? The libraries have computer software that allows a drawing of the item to be made. Once drawn, the specs are saved to a thumb drive that is then plugged into the printer, communicating the image. The printer is “a large, computer-controlled hot glue gun” that melts the filament and spreads and builds it into the image from the drive.

WHY OFFER THIS SERVICE? Many homes have one-dimensional printers now that weren’t available 20 years ago. In the future every household may have a 3D printer. So the library prepares us for the future by teaching us this new machine and letting us practice. In addition, the library is a place where creative people can work together, exchange ideas and inspire each other.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE MAKING? At Zarrow, physical therapy students have made plastic replicas of housewares so people with dexterity problems can use them for practice picking up objects. Tiny lamp posts were made when crafting snow globes for the holidays. The New York City Library for the Performing Arts in Lincoln Center has a printer. Users there include a musician who is experimenting with the shape of mouthpieces on wind instruments, and a set designer who makes small models of the set to be used in plays and operas. During a program at Central Library, a NASA spokesperson, via Skype, informed the crowd that plans are underway to put a 3D printer on the space station. Software on earth will send specs of a certain tool to the space printer, so that the tool, or other rocket parts, do not have to travel there but can be printed on the spot.

Here are a few library books you can check out to get started with 3D printing: Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing, Designs for 3D Printing and 3D Printing for Dummies. 

Summer 2018 | @your library

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School librarians: Part of our team 400 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 918.549.7419 tulsalibrary.org/friends

Editor: Sherry Leslie Contributors: Debbie Cogan, Rebecca Harrison, Carolyn McClure, Glad Platner, Jennifer Wells 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 four times a year.

2018-19 OFFICERS Sherry Leslie, President Marian Sexton, 1st Vice President Michael Nesser, 2nd Vice President Norman Bryant, Treasurer Laurie Brumbaugh, Assistant Treasurer Dorothy Minor, Recording Secretary Lynn Peacher, Corresponding Secretary Debbie Grillot, Past President

2018-19 BOARD MEMBERS

Like us on

ow are librarians within high schools changing lives? As a guidance counselor at Bishop Kelley High School, I have visited the library and observed how students are drawn in to the books, technology, magazines and the fun created by the librarian.

Librarian Lee Ann Parrish runs a top-notch library, with great displays, events to entice reading and services to aide teachers with curriculum and students with research. Once a teacher, Parrish earned a library science degree at University of Central Oklahoma, and has been Kelley’s librarian for four years. After visiting the displays and attending the book club, it is apparent to me that this is not like my high school of years ago.

Reading for pleasure competes with homework, part-time work, community service and sports, music, family etc. Parrish uses creativity to capture student interest and make them feel comfortable in the library, like the “First Lines Contest” in which students were given several first lines of books and competed to match them to the book containing the lines. During “Blind Date with a Book” books were wrapped in Valentine-themed paper and students made a blind selection to pick a book and write a brief synopsis. The written item made the student eligible for a prize drawing. “Banned Books Week” featured discussion on censorship.

There was book bingo—match the title with a description of why the book was banned.

Parrish also introduces the resources of the Tulsa City-County Library system as she works with teachers who bring their class in for research.

CALENDAR

Laura Bottoms Lynda Brownson Courtney Cooper Connie Cronley Doris Degner-Foster Rachel Ann Dennis Eldon Eisenach Catherine Gatchell Donna Goodman Gretchen Hannefield Kathleen Kastelic Hussien Khattab Rita Kirk Katy Livingston Carolyn McClure Cindy McDonald Brenda Michael-Haggard Melanie Nelson Michael Nesser Elaine Olzawski Richard Parker Glad Platner Janet Purinton Jan Reese Virginia Richard Karla Shahan Karen Smith Travis Splawn Sally Stewart Mack Vanderlip Julie Watson Cecilia Whitehurst Peggy Wolfe

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by Debbie Cogan

MUSIC SANDWICHED IN Mondays, July 9, 23 noon | Central Library

SUMMER READING PROGRAM ENDS Saturday, August 4 Visit tulsalibrary.org for more events and holiday closures.

facebook.com/FOLTulsa

The Bishop Kelley library hosted a traveling exhibit on the Dust Bowl.

They help students get a library card and learn to use the website to access library services.

Book club students show up an entire hour before school starts just to discuss the latest book. Parrish introduces as many authors as she can to share about writing processes. Author Jennifer Latham came to the book club after they read Dreamland Burning, her book about Tulsa.

Ruta Sepetys, author of Salt to the Sea, talked to the book club via Skype, and the book Refugee

by Alan Gratz opened dialogue about the current refugee crises around the world.

Before and after school, students come to study, read, do research, meet with a study group, work on projects or play board games or chess. The Bishop Kelley library is a valuable resource for students and staff to talk and read together, learn new things and collaborate. We hope some will grow up to be librarians! 

CHAPTERS: A BENEFIT FOR THE RUTH G. HARDMAN ADULT LITERACY SERVICE Thursday, September 20 Join authors Ally Carter, Sasha Martin and Beatriz Williams for this festive evening of books, bards and bites.

Tickets are $50.

Call 918.549.7494 for tickets or info.