@your library Volume XXIX Number Two
DITION E Y A HOLID A NEWSLETTER OF
Winter 2021
Library to honor two with achievement awards
T
by TCCL Staff he African-American Resource Center is excited to announce that the 2022 Sankofa Freedom Award winner is famed author Walter Mosley.
Mosley is the author of more than 60 critically-acclaimed books of fiction, nonfiction, memoir and plays. From the first novel he published, Devil in a Blue Dress with its protagonist Easy Rawlins, Mosley’s work has explored the lives of Black men and women in America—past, present and future. He has had several of his books adapted for film and tv including Devil in a Blue Dress, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned and the forthcoming Apple TV+ production of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. He is also a writer and an executive producer on the John Singleton FX show, Snowfall. He is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, The Mystery Writers of America’s Grand Master Award, a Grammy, several NAACP Image awards, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020 he was awarded the Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award from the National Book Foundation. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mosley now lives in Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
Award Presentations SATURDAY, FEB. 12 SANKOFA FREEDOM AWARD Virtual, 10:00 a.m.
SATURDAY, MARCH 5 CIRCLE OF HONOR AWARD Zarrow Regional Library, 10:30 a.m.
INSIDE:
Email AskUs at askus@tulsalibrary.org or call 918.549.7323 for more information.
President's Podium page 2
Walter Mosley and Archie Mason Established in 2005 by the African-American Resource Center (AARC) and the Tulsa Library Trust, the biennial Sankofa Freedom Award’s purpose is to recognize a nationally prominent author whose life’s work positively addresses the range and complexity of cultural, economic, and political issues within the greater African-American community. Archie Mason is the 2022 American Indian Circle of Honor winner. Mason is the executive minister of Tulsa’s All Tribes Community Church. A former educator for 34 years, Mason taught at Tulsa Public Schools and then at Rogers State University before entering tribal politics in 2006 where he served 14 years as a member of the Osage Nation Congress. As a person of Osage and Cherokee descent, Mason has long advocated for and continues to support both Osage and Cherokee culture, language, history, life, values, customs, rituals and traditions. Mason resides in Pawhuska, Okla. The Circle of Honor is sponsored by The Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Tulsa Library Trust and TCCL’s American Indian Resource Center. Inaugurated in 2004, the Circle of Honor Award honors an American Indian for their lifetime achievements and contributions that have enriched the lives of others. Induction into the Circle of Honor is a celebration of the honoree’s actions in the face of adversity, commitment to the preservation of American Indian culture and legacy for future generations. Recipients receive a $5,000 cash prize.
Travels With Tulsans kicks off Jan. 12 on Zoom page 3
Adult Creative Writing Contest opens Feb. 1 page 3
Author Marilynne Robinson visits Tulsa page 4
PRESIDENT’S PODIUM Here's to making the old new again in 2022.
"
Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
Clearly, as we end 2021, we recognize the value the Tulsa City-County Library
has for all of Tulsa County. The Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries appreciate the support of our members and look forward to continuing the activities that enrich the lives of children and adults. As we cautiously resume small in-person gatherings, we hope to be able to return to more normal gatherings in 2022. While the plans remain tentative, we maintain hope. TCCL staff members have certainly met the challenges of the pandemic and provided services to meet the needs of children and adults even in restricted times. The innovations have allowed residents continued access to books in all formats, WiFi, services such as faxing and copying, and virtual programming for adults and children.
Friends and giving gift memberships to family and friends. The funds from membership dues support books for children, Travels with Tulsans, Books Sandwiched In, and scholarships for library staff along with a number of other programs. Our programs foster life-long learning for children and adults.
As we move into the new year, consider renewing your own membership in the
Dorothy Minor President
Looking forward to 2022, we have terrific programs in the works. Instead of giving in to the pandemic, we have been innovative and found ways to keep readers engaged. Join us as we move forward with new goals and new programs. Renew your membership or join today!
Share the Love: Gift a membership
L
ibraries are a safe space in our communities, opening the doors to knowledge and making lifelong learning accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds. Share your love for the library by gifting a Friends membership to someone dear to you, and say thanks for all that libraries give to us. Your gift allows us to respond to meet needs the library faces. Now more than ever we see the great strides our libraries take to bring people together, engage minds and provide much-needed resources.
Great Decisions Kickoff SUNDAY, JAN. 23
Central Library, 2:30 p.m.
J
oin us for the kickoff to the 2022 Great Decisions foreign-policy discussion program. Learn more about the program, get connected with a group and pick up discussion materials. The keynote address, "A Decarbonized Energy Global Supply Chain: Sources, Markets & Challenges" will be presented by Dr. Bert Fisher, principal, Lithochimeia Environmental Geoscience Consultants.
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@your library | Winter 2021
Use the enclosed envelope or pay by credit card at TulsaLibrary.org/Friends. You’ll receive an “I My Library” decal with your gift of $25 or more. You’ll also be entered to win a $50 bookstore gift card when you give any amount by Dec. 31!
FROM NOV. 1 - DEC. 20, WE HAVE RECEIVED GIFTS RECOGNIZING THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS: $100 - In Memory of Otha Graham $100 - In Honor of William & Donna Farrior $50 - In Honor of Bill & Dolores Duffy $50 - In Memory of Marion Noldt To honor or memorialize a loved one with a gift to Friends, simply return the enclosed envelope with your gift of any amount.
FRIENDS CAMPAIGN TRACKER 59% $12,370
$21,000
We have reached 59% of our fundraising goal. YOUR gift will help us get to 100%! Give the gift of membership to someone who loves the library as much as you do, or consider an additional end-of-year gift.
NOTEWORTHY NEWS Travels With Tulsans kicks off January 12 on Zoom
W
by Marian Sexton
inter 2022 will take all of us, traveling together, to eight fascinating places around the globe, all from the comfort of our own homes or offices. From 12:1012:50 p.m. on eight successive Wednesdays, using the marvels of technology, we will easily, and without jetlag, explore:
JAN. 12| Footprints Into Cambodia and the Empire of Angkor with Bobby Chew Bigby JAN. 19| Yemen with Rodger Randle JAN. 26| Treks to Nepal and India with Mark and
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
FEB. 23| Wildlife of Tanzania with Teresa Burkett
Becky Collins
MARCH 2| Italian 101 in 45 Minutes with Pam Chew
FEB. 2| Ireland: From the North to the South
Whew! What a wonderful exploration of our incredible world. Don’t miss a second of our fantastic trip. To join in, email Friends@tulsalibrary.org requesting to have a link sent directly to you. Then, as 12:10 p.m. on Jan. 12 (and the other Wednesdays) rolls around all you have to do is click the link on your computer, your tablet, your ipad, or on your cell phone, and sit back to watch beautiful photographs and learn all about another fascinating part of the world.
with Sloan Davis
FEB. 9| Patagonia: Argentina and Chile with Gerald Taron
FEB. 16| Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia with George Moudry
45th Annual Adult Creative Writing Contest opens Feb. 1 by Cindy McDonald
C
alling all wordsmiths 18 years old or older! It is time to start preparing your entry (or entries) for the 45th Annual Adult Creative Writing Contest. Entries will be accepted February 1 through the March 31 deadline. CATEGORIES ARE: Children's Fiction, Informal Essay, Poetry, Short Story, *NEW* Young Adult Fiction. First place winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $150; second place winners will receive $100; honorable mention winners will receive $25. Comprehensive rules and entry forms will be available at all Tulsa City-County libraries and at www.TulsaLibrary.org beginning late January. Friends will host an awards ceremony in May to honor the winners.
Published and unpublished writers may participate in our Adult Creative Writing Contest. All entries are judged anonymously. Anyone who lives, works or attends school in Tulsa County may enter. Encourage budding authors you know to give it a go! There is a sliding fee schedule starting at $10 for one entry. You may submit one entry to each category. Entry fees cover prize winnings.
Winter 2021 | @your library
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Author Marilynne Robinson visits Tulsa 400 Civic Center Tulsa, OK 74103 918.549.7419 TulsaLibrary.org/Friends
Editor: Sherry Leslie Contributors: Cidnee Kroenlein, Cindy McDonald, Dorothy Minor, Marian Sexton 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. @ your library is published for members four times a year.
2021-22 OFFICERS Dorothy Minor, President Diane Pennington, 1st Vice President Mindy Galoob, 2nd Vice President Norman Bryant, Treasurer Rachel Organist, Assistant Treasurer Peggy Wolfe, Recording Secretary Sherry Leslie, Past President
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by Cidnee Kroenlein
uthor Marilynne Robinson was honored with the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award at Central Library, Friday, Dec. 3. Gala chair, Kim Brilz, and committee nurtured a vision of a winter wonderland, brought to life with floating snowflake lights suspended off of the second floor, snowy birch tree limbs and hues of shimmering blues. An intimate guest list enjoyed dinner by The Summit Club followed by an engaging award presentation from Author Selection Committee Chair, Adrian Alexander, and a thoughtful and enlightening talk from author Marilynne Robinson. On Saturday, Dec. 4, nearly 100 guests attended the author public presentation in the Pocahontas Greadington Learning and Creativity Center. The presentation was a conversation between Marilynne Robinson and TulsaKids Magazine Managing Editor, Betty Casey. Pre-signed bookplates were given out to those that attended. The Helmerich award is presented annually by Tulsa City-County Library and the Tulsa Library Trust.
2021-22 BOARD MEMBERS Lin Arnett Barbara Bannon Laura Bottoms Robyn Bowman Brenda Bradshaw Nancy Carroll Chris Cole Courtney Cooper Doris Degner-Foster Ros Elder Laura Frossard Laurie Green Lillie Haddican Donna Hart Janet Henderson Barry Hensley Morgan Holmes Arlene Johnson Marty Laughlin Jim Lee Carolyn McClure Gisele McDaniel Cindy McDonald Rosemary Moran Diane Morrow-Kondos Mary Olzawski Karen Owens Glad Platner April Schweikhard Marian Sexton Karla Tomsen
Some of our 2021 favorite reads
W
e asked our board members to share some of their most memorable reads over the last year. Here are a few of their favorites to add to your reading list.
Horizon Barry Lopez Recommended by Ros Elder.
Klara and the Sun Kazuo Ishiguro Recommended by Carolyn McClure.
Running With Sherman Christopher McDougall Recommended by Sherry Leslie.
Like us on
facebook.com/FOLTulsa
TOP: Marilynne Robinson with TCCL CEO Kim Johnson, Peggy Helmerich and Betty Casey. BOTTOM: Central Library decorated for the gala.
The Four Winds Kristin Hannah Recommended by Karla Tomsen.
Oh, William! Elizabeth Strout Recommended by Peggy Wolfe.
Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series
Recommended by Barry Hensley.
West With Giraffes Lynda Rutledge Recommended by Glad Platner.
Hamnet Maggie O'Farrell Recommended by Lisa Lawrence.