Happy Halloween
Month: October 2009
Be a Champ, Use the Library in November
By KATHY MCGILBERRY
Let’s all choose a token, roll the dice and start moving around the November board, as we look at children’s, teen and adult programming at McAlester Public Library. I call dibs on the Scottie dog avatar!
Yes, November features National Gaming Day activities for teens, a display to commemorate National Game and Puzzle Week Nov. 22-28 and a bit of gamey wordplay this monthly missive. Isn’t that just ducky? (Ducky = 15 pts. in Scrabble, by the way.)
Another display in the lobby will feature all things British. Pop in and see it. Staff Picks are set to resume with offerings from Ellen Mills, and the Shelf of the Week display rolls along with Nathan Forrest’s eclectic choices.
If your concentration is in jeopardy and you don’t think you can remember all the events, you can pick up handy printed calendars at the front desk.
Also this month, the big news is our new Sunday hours. Until Memorial Day, the library will be open every Sunday from 1:30-5 p.m. Set your VCR/DVR to record the day’s games and power your way to the library.
Here’s what you can expect in children’s programming in November. Children’s Librarian Anita Ross has added a children’s movie every Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Also on Tuesdays are two Lapsit story times for children age three and younger. Caregivers and groups meet at 10 a.m., followed by family groups at 11:15.
On Wednesdays, children age three and older meet for Story Time at 10 a.m. And on the first Thursday of every month from 4-5:30 p.m., a new Game Time for the younger set has been added.
Teen activities begin with a Manga Club meeting Nov. 2. The Teen Book Club is reading “Found” by Margaret Peterson Haddix and will meet on Nov. 16. And the Teen Advisory Group will meet Nov. 23.
Teen Librarian Sarah DiLorenzo has all sorts of gaming activities set for Saturday, Nov. 14, all in addition to the regular activities. Teen Movie Nights are each Tuesday from 4-6 p.m., and Teen Game Times are each Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m.
The library will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, and closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27 for Thanksgiving.
Now here’s the rundown of all the adult and family activities:
Thursday, Nov. 5—Bodacious Bookies meet from 1-3 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss “The Beekeeper’s Apprentice” by Laurie R. King. There will also be two “Let’s Watch” movie screenings—at 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m.– in the Whiteacre Room, to go along with the “Let’s Talk About it, Oklahoma” program. Cicely Tyson stars as Miss Jane Pittman.
Monday, Nov. 9—Arthouse Theater features the Ron Howard movie about David Frost’s interview with Richard Nixon. This R-rated flick begins at 6 p.m., and free popcorn will be provided.
Thursday, Nov. 12—The final session of the fall “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma” program kicks off at 6 p.m., as Dr. Trisha Yarbrough of East Central University presents a scholarly look at “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” by Ernest Gaines. Refreshments and a door prize will be provided.
Saturday, Nov. 14—Gaming activities will pause long enough for Second Saturday Cinema in the Whiteacre Room. Johnny Depp stars in the sequel to “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” rated PG. The movie starts at 2 p.m. and free popcorn will be available.
Monday, Nov. 16—Another special movie is on tap, when the Night Readers group takes a look at the 1945 classic based on the book “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” The movie begins at 5:45 p.m. in the Conference Room.
Tuesday, Nov. 17—Friends of the Library will meet at noon for their regular monthly luncheon. Then at 6:30 p.m., Night Readers will meet to discuss (you guessed it) “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith.
Finally, Monday, Nov. 30—The monthly first-run independent movie is “For My Father,” an unrated offering from Israel that writer Eric Alterman calls “the most powerful film I can ever remember seeing.” The movie begins at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room.
If you partake in any of the library offerings in November, we’ll call you a winner. Why not attend a new event this month? Then you’ll be not just a winner, but a CHAMPION!
Many View WWII Exhibits
A variety of information was available to patrons of McAlester Public Library Saturday, when the “bus-eum” from the Traces Museum of St. Paul, Minnesota arrived with its “Held in the Heartland” exhibit. Over 125 people toured the exhibit
In the photo at top left, visitors look over the local displays which detailed the history of Camp McAlester, the World War II Prisoner of War Camp located here from 1943-45. Local history buffs could also visit two open rooms at the McAlester Building Foundation/Old High School Museum across the street, where Ernie Shaw and Lionel Johnson displayed their collections of historical artifacts.
Also inside the library Saturday, vistors could see two films. The first showed a presentation by Tom Crowl, president of the Pittsburg County Genealogical and Historical Society, who gave a speech titled “When the Germans Invaded McAlester” to the Friends of the Library on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Another film showed an interview with Art Quadracci, 85, of McAlester, who was the last active-duty military man at Camp McAlester before it was transferred to civilian hands in 1945.
In the photo at top right, driver/docent Irving Kellman speaks to local residents about to board the bus-eum to learn more about Germans placed in internment and prisoner of war camps across the Midwest. Nationwide, there were over 600 camps during World War II.
‘Held in the Heartland’ Exhibit Coming Saturday
‘Breakfast’ Leads List of Goodies
Kurt Vonnegut’s “Breakfast of Champions” leads the list of books on Nathan Forrest’s recommendations, as the “Staff Picks” display takes another turn. The “Staff Picks” display has been temporarily replaced by Halloween items, and will resume soon.
Forrest’s picks and comments include:
*”Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.–Vonnegut has the distinction of having written one of the 100 most banned books, twice. This book is his revenge. Delightfully acerbic and witty, it is a cathartic romp.
*”A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore–There’s been a death in the family, and Charlie has become overwhelmed with grief, sadness, and something else. This is a tale of a not-so-grim reaper…takes your breath away.
*”The Host” by Stephenie Meyer–This is a classic science-fiction plot that has been told many, many times. Stephenie Meyer gives this tale a refreshing new twist and a delightfully new voice.
*”Runaways: Dead End Kids” by Joss Whedon–Whedon wrote television’s “Buffy,” “Firefly,” the “Dollhouse” series, and the internet movie “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” Here he takes Vaughan’s “Runaway ” series and runs away with it.
*”The Dark Elf Trilogy” by R.A. Salvatore–Drizzt has a terrible secret that he has to keep hidden from society. It is a secret he must keep hidden at all costs. It is a dark, dangerous secret that could end his life. The secret is…that he is not evil.
*”Brave New World and Brave New World Revisited” by Aldous Huxley–The future is weird. The social commentary may be more provocative than Orwell’s Animal Farm, but the presentation of a dystopian future through parables has never been more delightfully weird.
*”Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson–This autobiography is…never mind. Don’t read this book. It’s all lies anyway. We will just move it to fiction and make it disappear. Don’t read it.
Both Genteel and Ghoulish
McBook 
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