Friends of TCCL Newsletter - Spring 2024

@your library

by Sherry Leslie

Once a year library staff from across the state gather to exchange ideas, take classes together on innovative topics in the library world, meet vendors and lawmakers, and share meals and laughs. The Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) Conference was held in Tulsa in March. The conference alternates each year between Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Sequoyah Book Award winner Alan Gratz (intermediate school category) spoke at a reception. His award-winning book, Ground Zero, is a fiction entry about two young people personally involved in overcoming the tragedy of 9/11. The other 2023 Sequoyah winners were named.

Part of the programming also included meeting local authors and being introduced to their books. Diane Morrow-Kondos,

author of The Long Road to Happiness: A Sister’s Journey through Her Brother’s Disabilities, was one of two local authors to speak at a luncheon, and one of six featured at an evening author's reception at Central Library on March 6. Diane is also a Director of the Board of Friends of TCCL, and a past winner of the Adult Creative Writing Contest. 

Clockwise from Top: Stephanie Huaman and Requil Golbek work the TCCL booth at the vendor fair; Tatiana Godinez, Stacy Lister (pictured on the right) and a representative from the Tulsa Global Alliance presented a class on their successful annual program, World in a Box Day; Board member Diane Morrow-Kondos was one of several local authors to speak at the conference.

PRESIDENT’S PODIUM

A fond farewell

Saying goodbye as president of the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries is bittersweet. I have served through the pandemic and beyond; now it is time to hand over the gavel to a new president who will continue the work of supporting TCCL and promoting literacy throughout Tulsa County. I am grateful to the Executive Board members who have always been more than willing to step up and make sure we accomplish our mission. The Friends’ Board members are generous with their time and talents and guarantee the success of all the Friends’ activities. I am truly grateful for Tara Farrar, Friends Support Liaison, for she is invaluable. Jennifer Greb, Systemwide Services Director, is another valued resource; she meets with the Friends each month to keep us updated on TCCL’s news. Kim Johnson, TCCL’s talented CEO, maintains a close connection with the Friends.

As I step down from the office of president, I will remain on the Board because I believe so strongly in serving TCCL and promoting literacy, especially now. I am thankful for the generous support of members throughout Tulsa County for their memberships and donations which allow the Friends to continue promoting literacy.

Thank you, too, to members for attending activities such as Books Sandwiched In and Travels With Tulsans. I am proud of the Friends’ support for TCCL staff on Staff Development Day as well as our opportunity to give books to underprivileged children. All of these activities and more are possible because of members like you who belong to the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries. As Andrew Carnegie said, “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a neverfailing spring in the desert.” Thank you for supporting TCCL and the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries.

Show your support for Friends: Attend the Annual Membership Meeting and Helmerich Book Sale

by Sherry Leslie

We invite you to join us for our general membership meeting on Thursday, May 2 at noon at Central Library Aaronson Auditorium. TCCL CEO Kim Johnson will join us for a stateof-the-library update, we will elect new board members and officers, and honor our Distinguished Service Award winner. There will also be a book signing by John Wooley, author of the library's new history book, Tulsa City-County Library 1992-2021: A Legacy of Innovation, Integration, Inspiration. Light refreshments will be served. Look for an invite in your inbox soon!

Did you know Helmerich Library has its own Friends group? They raise funds for library program grants and other projects. How do they raise funds? They work all year rounding up thousands of

Go to any Tulsa City-County Library to find magic! I’ll close with this quote from Lemony Snicket: “I’m not a stranger,” I said, and pointed to his book. “I’m someone who reads the same authors you do.”

With sincere thanks,

Dorothy Minor, President

pre-loved books to sell at bargain prices. Each April, at Helmerich Library, 5131 East 91st Street, all kinds of books for all ages are laid out on tables for easy shopping at their Book Sale.

This year's sale will run April 12-13 and April 19-20 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Stop by and support another wonderful TCCL Friends organization aiding our library system. You're sure to find a new-to-you book, DVD, or more! 

Eager shoppers browse books at a Friends of the Helmerich Library Book Sale. The annual event, which returned last year after a pandemic pause, always draws a crowd to this Tulsa library.

TCCL continues tradition of honoring authors

by Sherry Leslie

Author and illustrator Raina Telgemeier will be honored as the 2024 Anne V. Zarrow Award winner on Friday, May 3 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Library. This popular cartoonist writes and illustrates graphic novels for middle school readers. Her works are best sellers, winning numerous awards. Before branching into her own books, she was writing graphic “mini-comics” for established brands. She was an author of a weekly “webcomic” site called Girlamatic. Following that, she was recruited by Scholastic to adapt The Babysitters Club books into graphic form, and put a fun, unique spin on four of Ann Martin's beloved books.

At the May event, she will award the winners of TCCL's Young People's Writing Contest. The contest is an annual event to which youth ages 10 – 18 years may submit their writing for the opportunity at recognition and prizes.

Last year there were almost 600 entries from our young writers! This year, entrants and their families will get to meet Telgemeier on May 3. In anticipation of a large crowd, the event has been scheduled for the Central Library first floor to provide plenty of seating. Come early! It will be a fun-filled evening of young writers-in-training being recognized for their talent.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Thanks to your generous support, we have now exceeded our annual fundraising campaign goal of $22,000. We can't support our library systerm without YOU! Your generosity makes an impact in the lives of those in our communities by strengthening the crucial work of our libraries.

There's still time! Our campaign cycle runs until June 30, so if you haven't joined or renewed your membership as a Friend yet, simply visit www.TulsaLibrary.org/Friends to give by credit card. You’ll receive an “I  My Library” decal with your gift of $25 or more.

CONSIDER AN EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFT

Ask your employer if they will match your gift to Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries and double your impact!

In other author news, festivities for the Festival of Words kicked off on March 3 with the presentation of the Circle of Honor Award to John Herrington, Chickasaw, aviator, astronaut, Ph.D, and author of Mission to Space. This book, aimed at youth, describes his experience training to be a NASA astronaut, and the missions on which he worked. Importantly, a section of the book teaches Chickasaw words for space-related terms.

Once again, in anticipation of drawing a crowd, Central Library hosted the event, which is usually held at Zarrow Regional Library (home to the American Indian Resource Center.) Dr. Herrington received a $10,000 prize with the help of the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation. 

MAKE A TRIBUTE GIFT

Tribute gifts are a unique way to honor someone special and support the library. To honor or memorialize a loved one with a gift to Friends, simply return a donation form or envelope with your gift of any amount.

FROM DEC. 1, 2023 - MARCH 20, 2024

WE RECEIVED GIFTS RECOGNIZING

THE FOLLOWING:

$1,000 - In Memory of Joshua John Guy Ravenell

$200,

$50 - In Memory of Peggy Selman

$200 - In Memory of Ann Bartlett

$100 - In Memory of Christopher Walder

$100 - In Honor of Gretchen Hannefield

$50 - In Memory of Marion Noldt

$50 - In Honor of Bill and Dolores Duffy

$50 - In Honor of Dorothy Minor

Author Raina Telgemeier will visit Tulsa on May 3 as the recipient of the Anne V. Zarrow Award for young people's literature.

Black History Month activities abound

by Tara Farrar

February is always a-buzz at TCCL as we celebrate Black History Month. On Feb. 9, author Terry McMillan visited TCCL. The author of best-selling books How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale (to name a few), McMillan received the Sankofa Freedom Award, which recognizes an author whose life's work positively addresses the range and complexity of cultural, economic and political issues affecting the African American community. And on Feb. 21 the popular African American Heritage Bowl, with an "African Americans in the Arts" theme this year, was held at Rudisill Regional Library. 

Clockwise from Top: The team from Booker T. Washington High School takes part in the African American Heritage Bowl; Library staff from the Nubian Voices Affinity Group formed a team for the Bowl; Terry McMillan signs books at the Sankofa Freedom Award event; McMillan with library CEO Kim Johnson and staff from Rudisill Regional Library and the African American Resource Center.

Library volunteers and staff are worth celebrating!

by Sherry Leslie

All library volunteers will be honored at a sumptuous dessert buffet and party on Sunday, April 21 Friends of the Libraries will host the event, assisting the library's Volunteer Office in decorating the room and providing the selection of delicious treats.

Every library branch has volunteers who might sometimes go unnoticed. The Literacy Department can also brag of numerous tutors that teach reading to

adult learners without pay. Plus, there are members of the Friends, the Tulsa Library Trust board and the Library Commission who serve countless hours volunteering for the library. Paws for Reading dogs— dogs who listen lovingly as children read to them—are also not paid, but will get their moment in the spotlight, and lots of pets, at the party.

Coincidently, National Library Week and National Library Workers Day are also celebrated in April. (April is our own little awards season!) From April 7 – 13,

Americans say “thank you” to the many librarians we need and cherish. Whether in a public library, a college library, thousands of school libraries, military libraries and government libraries, we appreciate the gathering and sharing of information, the storing of history, the planning of educational opportunities, the care of library physical buildings, and the friendliness of those who help every person through the door and answer our many (and sometimes frivolous) questions. Big thanks to our library workers and our library volunteers! 

Take Your Child to the Library Day held Feb. 3

by Laura Raphael, Children's Services Coordinator

National Take Your Child to the Library Day is an annual event that allows library locations to dream big and use both their creativity and their knowledge of the community to create programs that make the library a fun and welcoming place to be.

This year, all library locations made the day (the first Saturday in February) special with interactive stickers for every child; additionally, 18 libraries held extra active and passive programs that ran the gamut from a simple prize wheel—every child who came to the library that day was invited to complete a challenge and spin for a prize—to an elaborate “the science of superheroes and fairy tales” extravaganza.

For 2024, our general focus was on science learning and fun. Branches offered a variety of science-focused, high-interest activities, take-home kits, and, of course, BOOKS!

Whether simple or elaborate, all programs had one goal in mind: to make children and families feel invited and welcomed to the library. We wanted them to experience everything the library has to offer them but also experience the library as a safe and welcoming place for them to explore, dream, and learn.

For example, a paper airplane making activity may seem like just that, but it represents the Glenpool Library’s Children’s professional’s understanding that this science topic and activity would resonate with many families in the community. Additionally, it's an example of the time and energy used to create interesting, educational, and fun take-home kits as well as a full book display related to planes and flight science. (By the way, that display was almost empty by the end of the day!)

As one parent commented at the end of a National Take Your Child to the Library Day program: “We always feel so important to library staff! Thank you for offering programs like this and making it so fun for our family."

Hardesty Regional Library was home to a massive audience of over 300 children and families interested in exploring how scientific concepts can support themes of fairytales and superheroes.

We are so grateful for the Friends of the Library investing their resources to help make parents and children feel important to the library. (Because they are!) Your consistent and generous funding for National Take Your Child to the Library Day every year makes it possible to connect with families and let them see how awesome the library is. Thank you, Friends! 

FRIENDS AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS

Oby Lin Arnett

both served on TCCL's United Way committee.

ne of the many ways the Friends of TCCL board supports our Five Star Library System is to provide scholarships to staff who want to advance their education. We are proud to announce that the Scholarship Committee headed by former TCCL employee Barry Hensley, has approved all the current spring applicants. They include Tiffany Willis, Children's Library Associate, Suburban Acres; Clayton Fletcher, Data Analyst, IT; Jennifer Kuntz, Acquisitions Clerk, Collection Management; John Anderson, Facilities Director; Hannah Moua, Customer Service Assistant, Hardesty; and Sarah Weitenhagen, Customer Service Assistant, Peggy Helmerich. These applicants are all attending diverse educational institutions, but all want to move up the professional ladder at TCCL. Jennifer Greb is the TCCL liaison who confers with Human Resources on the eligibility of the applicants. Congrats to all the recipients. 

John Anderson and Jennifer Kuntz

918.549.7419

TulsaLibrary.org/Friends

Editor: Sherry Leslie

Contributors: Lin Arnett, Lisa Lawrence, Dorothy Minor, Diane Morrow-Kondos, Glad Platner, Laura Raphael, Dale Watts

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.

2023-24 OFFICERS

Dorothy Minor, President

Ros Elder 1st Vice President

Cindy McDonald, 2nd Vice President

Nancy Carroll, Treasurer

Lillie Haddican, Assistant Treasurer

Gisele McDaniel, Recording Secretary

Glad Platner, Corresponding Secretary

2023-24 BOARD MEMBERS

Lin Arnett

Judy Berry

Laura Bottoms

Kate Carden

Bob Caruso

Chris Cole

Doris Degner-Foster

Laura Duncombe

Mona Easterling

Laura Frossard

Karen Gaddis

Mindy Galoob

Donna Hart

Barry Hensley

Janet Holland

Glenda Huckabay

Sherry Leslie

Randy Lewin

Gabe Lowe

Kara Joy McKee

Elizabeth Mefford

Diane Morrow-Kondos

George Moudry

Ryan Nowlin

Elaine Olzawski

Taheerah Salim

Diane Schnell

Marian Sexton

Karla Tomsen

Dale Watts

Cecilia Whitehurst

Carol Willett

What's new and changing in the library's Research Services department?

by Sherry Leslie

There are some changes coming to the library's Research Services department. Our community has benefitted from years of shared knowledge for businesses, nonprofits and others who use the Research Wizards service. The service will be retired this April, as its two staff, Martha Gregory and Jennifer Pawlowski, also retire from TCCL.

Customers will now be able to book a one-onone appointment with the library's Economic and Community Development librarian to learn how to use TCCL's business resources to conduct research.

Any customer can also utilize the library's research services by using the Book a Research Librarian service, which was piloted last year, and will continue to be offered. This wonderful benefit of library card ownership is bestowed by booking an appointment for either an inperson or Zoom meetup. To schedule a Zoom appointment, reach out on the website www. tulsalibrary.org/book-research-librarian. Or, you can call the Customer Care department at 918.549.7323 if you're interested in setting up an in-person session. Explain your need and Research Services will begin the process!

The Research Department is also working on new events such as the We Are Oklahoma

book discussion, a read and discuss group on books about Tulsa and/or Oklahoma's local history. The group began last April with an allday symposium where they discussed three books related to Tulsa's development. Last December, a book taking place in a Tulsa bakery was the topic of discussion (so there were great refreshments!) In February they discussed Timothy Egan’s The Worst Hard Time, about the Dust Bowl years.

The next book will be The Lost Boys by Gina Perry, about a secret camping experiment at Robbers Cave State Park near McAlister, in the summer of 1954. Copies are available. The discussion will be held Tuesday, April 23 at the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities located at 101 E. Archer Street.

Research Services also provides an amazing service with its Grow Academy, which teaches people interested in starting a business how to research and write a compelling business plan over the course of ten classes. Started last year, it has averaged about 30 participants per session so far. I attended the recent 2-hour session on Market Research. The speakers were a professor from NSU's business department along with librarian Aubrey Naiman, who explained how database material can be found on the library website and how to use it.

The department also offers classes for those looking to learn about finding and applying for jobs, leading a nonprofit, and more. Check the library's My Library event guide and the web site for upcoming classes.

The department's librarian staff, who as you can tell keep very busy, include Research Services Manager, Allison Embry-Saenz; Oklahoma History Librarian, Rebecca McWilliams; Economic and Community Development Librarian, Aubrey Naiman; and Research Associate, Sunghee Ko 