Slime, stickers, treats and...dragons!

by Laura Raphael

Pandemic blues over and a green light for in-person programming made the annual event of National Take Your Child to the Library Day a roaring – literally – success at all 24 Tulsa City-County Library locations on February 4, 2023.

The National Take Your Child to the Library Day, which the Tulsa City-County Library has been celebrating since 2018 with the help of Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries, is a yearly event that encourages families to explore the resources and activities available at their neighborhood libraries. On this day, libraries become hubs of learning and discovery, offering handson activities that encourage children to explore their interests and develop their skills.

In Tulsa and Tulsa County, all 24 library locations had special stickers to give to children and parents that allowed for fun and personable interactions. Library staff would ask for a child’s name, write the child’s name in the blank, and then present it to them: “We [Heart] Jasper!” (Or whatever their name was!)

For 16 branch libraries, there was even more fun to be had, from building cardboard castles to taking selfies with famous picturebook character Olivia to scavenger hunts…and even dragons!

At the Peggy Helmerich Library, children enjoyed a full day of activities including creating world maps, a scavenger hunt, storytime, music, and face-painting. The funds also allowed for the purchase of a high-quality world map, which will serve as inspiration for many globe-trotting dreams, plans, and learning. Helmerich Youth Librarian Julia Cantrell shared: “Thank you to the Friends who sponsored those fun activities for very excited kids! The world map is now on display in the storytime room indefinitely where it will be admired by many!”

The Central Library’s Children’s Department coordinated a buildingwide scavenger hunt, providing floor maps, various activities on each floor, and a special photo spot to end the day and be entered into winning a prize.

At several libraries, the focus was on connecting school-aged readers with books they might like –and literally giving away books for their reading habits! The Nathan Hale Library program was modeled on a state fair theme, with a prize wheel, games, snacks and conversation, and two big giveaway baskets of books. Youth Associate Kristina Acosta wrote: “I want to thank the Friends of the Library for their funding because I was able to add even more fun to this event by purchasing fun book fair-themed prizes plus snacks. The kids had SO much fun spinning the prize and the look on their faces when I got to tell them that everything was free was so sweet.”

Finally, enter dragons! The Broken Arrow Library took castles and dragons as their program theme, and activities involved building a cardboard castle and making dragon scale slime with Children’s Associate Angela Martinez. There were plenty of books on dragons and castles to check out as well! Keeping the mess at the library instead of at home was especially appreciated by parents and children: “Mom never lets me do that at home!”

The National Take Your Child to the Library Day has become a day many Tulsa and Tulsa County families look forward to every year. More than just an annual event, it’s a wonderful way for children and families to connect with their community libraries and discover the magic of reading and learning!

Sarah Munson, the Pratt Library Children’s Associate, summarized the gratitude that all Children’s staff have for the Friends of the Library support – and why it’s so important to the library’s mission for children’s services:

“I would like to extend my thanks to the Friends of the Library for the funds which we used to encourage children to enjoy their access to information and to encourage them to see the library as a fun place where they can connect with each other and their interests, rather than a cold, quiet, and distant place.” 