Poetry Reading

OKLAHOMA POET Ron Wallace read from his works at a special event at McAlester Public Library Thursday, December 16. The audience heard selections from “Oklahoma Cantos,” “Native Son,” “I Come from Cowboys…and Indians,” and “Smoke and Stone.”

Special Visitors

MR. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS were special guests at McAlester Public Library Wednesday, Dec. 15. Santa visited with and heard the holiday wishes of over 50 children throughout the day, and Mrs. Claus handed out candy canes.

Two Special Events Dec. 15, 16

Two special guests have scheduled holiday events at McAlester Public Library, 401 N. 2^nd, this week. One will be traveling from Durant, and another will be arriving from the North Pole.

Santa Claus has scheduled his annual visit to the library for Wednesday, Dec. 15. He’ll be available to hear children’s Christmas wishes and take photos at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. Mrs. Santa Claus also plans to attend.

The event will take place in the Whiteacre Room.

Then on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m., Oklahoma poet Ron Wallace of Durant will be on hand for a poetry reading from his latest volume, “Oklahoma Cantos and Other Pieces of the Whole.”

Wallace, author of three other poetic works, is a member of the Southeastern Oklahoma State University adjunct English faculty. A native of Southeastern Oklahoma, he has many ties to Pittsburg County. His website, www.ronwallacepoetry.com , notes that his grandfather, John William Wallace, was killed by bounty hunters near Hartshorne in 1917.

He will have copies of his poetry for sale, including: “I Come from Cowboys…and Indians (I Come from Oklahoma);” “Native Son: American Poems from the Heart of Oklahoma” (a 2007 finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award); and “Smoke and Stone (The Voices of Gettysburg.”

Free refreshments will be available at both events. For more information, call 426-0930.

Photo of a Winning Kid

CONTEST WINNER–This young reader won a set of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books and the oversized cardboard cutout shown behind him recently. Besides having the winning entry in the contest drawing, the young man also solved bookmark puzzles to win the prizes.

Santa’s the Headliner for December Events

By KATHY McGILBERRY

We all know that December is the holiday season, but it’s also the month for Southeastern Public Library System of Oklahoma’s annual staff training, so the library will be closed for more days than usual this month.

Take note! The library will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 9 for staff training. Then there will be a four-day holiday break for Christmas, Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 23-26. And when the Old Year turns into the New Year, the library will be closed for two days, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. But we’ve packed a lot into the remaining days of the month to make up for it, as tightly as Santa packs his bag of toys on Christmas Eve.

And speaking of the Jolly Old Elf, Santa Claus will be visiting on Wednesday, Dec. 15. He’s sort of our “headliner” this month, but there are plenty of supporting activities as well, with movies, games, book clubs and other events for the whole family. And as always, library staff has prepared special displays all over the building for your education and enjoyment.

Come see! Christopher Elliott has his usual Christmas wonderland near the front desk, with an assist from Ellen Mills. Just to the left of those displays you’ll find a look at the Zombie Subgenre in both fiction and nonfiction. The Shelf of the Week from Nathan Forrest, at this writing, features how-to and do-it-yourself guides, with the usual creative title. Take a look!

Elsewhere, Steve Adams plans to feature local hospital history in the lobby, Library Volunteer Camilla Whittaker offers us a look at her nutcracker collection in the lobby display case, and I’m featuring Bill of Rights Day on a special display near the stairs.

The children’s area features Christmas and holiday books, and a new display in the teen area is titled “What Ails You? How diseases and disorders and other general health-related symptoms affect our lives.” And who knows what else we might come up with as the month progresses?

Here’s what we have planned so far for December:

Thursday, Dec. 2—Bodacious Bookies meet at 1 p.m. to discuss Mary Stewart’s “The Crystal Cave.” Hosts Darlene Rising and Janice Saaranen always have theme decorations and tasty refreshments for their monthly meetings. At 3:30 p.m., game times for children and teens will be combined and hosted by Alyce Edwards in the mezzanine meeting room.

Monday, Dec. 6—The teen Manga Club meets from 5-7 p.m. with new Teen Librarian Sarah Standish.

Tuesday, Dec. 7—Children’s Librarian Anita Ross hosts the regular Lap Sit story times, at 10 a.m. for caregivers and groups and at 11 a.m. for families. Movie Time for children begins at 4 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room West, and Movie Time for teens also begins at 4 p.m., but in the mezzanine meeting room.

Wednesday, Dec. 8—Miss Anita’s Story Time begins at 10 a.m. in the Whiteacre West. Then from 1-3 p.m., the monthly Free Crafts Workshop for adults meets in the Whiteacre Room East. The project is nutcracker decorations for table or tree, made from cardboard tubes. Registration is required since spaces are limited, so call us at 426-0930 to get your name on the list. There are still a few spaces open.

Thursday, Dec. 9—Library closed for staff training, but we’ll be open as usual on Friday.

Saturday, Dec. 11—Second Saturday Cinema returns at 2 p.m. with the movie based on Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It’s rated PG, and there will be plenty of free popcorn.

Monday, Dec. 13—Arthouse Theater at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre East will feature the big movie from last summer starring Leonardo DiCaprio. If you saw it and were confused, this free screening is the perfect opportunity to sort out the plotlines. And if you didn’t see it in the theater, this is the perfect opportunity to get confused for the first time. The movie also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page, and is rated PG-13. Dreamy!

Tuesday, Dec. 14—It’s Lap Sit story times at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. for the youngsters, and Movie Times at 4 p.m. both upstairs and downstairs for big and little ones. Call or see the poster in the teen area to get the titles.

Wednesday, Dec. 15—Santa Claus makes his yearly stop at McAlester Public Library, but this year he’s planning two sessions. He’ll be here at 10 a.m. to speak to smaller children and be available for photos, then again after school at 4 p.m. for older children.

Thursday, Dec. 16—Game Times for teens and children begin at 3:30 and 4 p.m., respectively.

Monday, Dec. 20—The Teen Book Club will meet concurrently with the Teen Advisory Group at 4 p.m. The book for discussion is S.A. Bodeen’s “The Compound.”

Tuesday, Dec. 21—The Friends of the Library will meet at noon, with Stroud Holt scheduled to provide the program. Movie Times for children and teens both begin at 4 p.m., upstairs and downstairs. Then later in the day, just as we did last year, we’ll open up the Whiteacre Room at 6:30 and have the radio blasting with the broadcast of the $10,000 Cash Drawing downtown. Join us as we gather to check and double-check our tickets, stay warm and calculate how fast we can run the three blocks downtown, should we be lucky enough to win something.

Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 23-26—Closed for Christmas Holiday.

Monday, Dec. 27—The Film Movement first-run independent movie is “1981.” This Canadian comedy is in French, with English subtitles, and is described as a “cheeky coming-of-age story.” Join us the last Monday of each month for these independent films—films you can’t see anywhere else but the library!

Tuesday, Dec. 28—Children’s and Teen movies begin at 4 p.m., both upstairs and downstairs. Then at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room, the Night Readers will meet to discuss Nelson DeMille’s political thriller “The Charm School.” Pick up a brochure with all the reading choices for 2011 at the front desk, and make plans to join the Night Readers. The group is growing, but there’s always room for one more.

Thursday, Dec. 30—Game Times for teens and children begin at 3:30 and 4 p.m., respectively.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1—Closed for New Year’s Holiday.