By KATHY McGILBERRY
It’s a downpour of activities in April at McAlester Public Library! Gushing rivers of book discussions are fed by babbling movie tributaries. A reservoir of computer, tax and math assistance adjoins a refreshing pool of crafts, contests and book sales.
Christopher Elliott is planning a display to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Even though the giant ocean liner obviously didn’t belong on the bottom of ocean, unfortunately that’s where it wound up, and we have all the books and movies you could want to detail that tragic voyage.
We know you’re often awash in information overflow, but if you can add just two more droplets to your internet stream, we’d like you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We’re McAlester Library (@McAlestrLibrary) in the Twitterverse and on Facebook, search for McAlester Public Library.
Where do you belong? The theme of National Library Week April 8-14 is “You Belong @Your Library!” and we couldn’t agree more. To celebrate, we’re awarding prizes to four entrants in our yearly Short Story/Essay Contest. The theme of the contest was “Where Do You Belong?,” and entries were brisk this year. Look for winning stories right here on the library blog, McBook, soon.
Also in April, library staff will be hosting a booth at the Baby Fair, where parents can sign up for library cards, children can hear a storyteller, and families can learn all about summer reading programs. The theme for the fair is “Giddy-Up Go” and we hope you lead your horse to this particular creek, and make him drink besides.
But the big event, the high dive if you will, is the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale April 20-21 at St. John’s Gym, 300 E. Washington. The early bird sale Friday at 6 p.m. costs $5 to attend. On Saturday beginning at 8 a.m., admission is free. You can get great bargains on high quality books and movies, and help keep library programs afloat!
And lest you begin to sink under the waves, we now give you a nice, dry listing of events:
*Tuesday, April 3—The Teen Yu-Gi-Oh Club met at 4 p.m. in the mezzanine meeting room.
*Wednesday, April 4—Computer Tech Anthony Smart begins another month of free computer classes with Basic Computing at 5 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room. Another Basic class follows on April 11, plus there’s Computer Security April 17 and Computer Maintenance April 25. Call 918-426-0930 to register.
*Thursday, April 5—The Bookies meet at 1 p.m. in the Conference Room with leaders Darlene Rising and Janice Saaranen to discuss Lisa See’s “Dreams of Joy.” Look for Chinese food on the refreshment table. Next month the group will discuss Larry McMurtry’s “Sin Killer.” Teens meet for Game Time upstairs at 3:45, and continue with the event every Thursday this month.
*Also Thursday, April 5—At 6 p.m., Henry Fonda stars as Tom Joad in the unrated movie adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic “The Grapes of Wrath.” The movie special is in conjunction with “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma,” which continues this month with the theme “The Worst Hard Time Revisited: Oklahoma in the Dust Bowl Years.” You are welcome to attend any movie or book discussion in the series. Pick up a brochure with all the details at the front desk, or check the website at www.mcalesterlibrary.net.
*Saturday, April 7—It’s Baby Fair all day long, so “Giddy-Up and Go” to the Pittsburg County Expo Center and say hi to us at the McAlester Public Library booth! Also on this and most every Saturday, volunteer tutor Grover Walker is on hand from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to help with math problems.
*Monday, April 9—Last day for free tax help! AARP volunteers will be in the Whiteacre Room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help you file your state and federal taxes. It’s first-come, first-served. Then at 6 p.m., the Whiteacre is transformed into a screening room as Arthouse Theater gets underway. See Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt in an R-rated edgy dramedy about what happens when a high school beauty tries to recapture her glory days with an old flame. Free popcorn!
*Tuesday, April 10—The Teen Challenge at 4 p.m. features “book spine poetry.” See Teen Librarian Erin Austin for details.
*Wednesday, April 11—Crafts, crafts everywhere! First, the adult Free Crafts Workshop group will meet at 1 p.m. in the Whiteacre to make tin can herb gardens. Then at 4 p.m., teen crafters will meet upstairs to make book origami. (You can help our crafters with supplies. We put out calls for community help on our website, and this month we’re asking for donations of printed tin cans, such as El Pato sauce, or anything colorful, without paper labels.)
*Thursday, April 12—Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma is a wonderful reading and discussion program from the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Dr. Lewis Parkhill, always a favorite with our participants, will be here to present the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Now in November” by Josephine W. Johnson, at 6 p.m. Plus, we’ll enjoy a light supper and award a door prize.
*Friday, April 13—Announcement of winners in the “Where Do I Belong” Essay/Short Story Contest.
*Saturday, April 14—Second Saturday Cinema at 2 p.m. in the Whiteacre features Kermit, Miss Piggy, Jason Segal and Amy Adams in a great family movie. It’s rated PG and we’ll have plenty of free popcorn.
*Monday, April 16—The Light Readers will discuss Frank E. Peretti’s “This Present Darkness” when they meet at 6 p.m. in the Conference Room. Ellen Barlow leads this group.
*Tuesday, April 17—The Friends of the Library will meet for their regular noon luncheon in the Whiteacre Room. Then at 6:30 p.m., the Night Readers will meet in the Conference Room to discuss Chris Cleave’s “Little Bee,” with yours truly as group leader.
*Wednesday, April 18—The Teen Cooking Class will meet at 3:45 to stir up some White Chili. Yummy!
*Thursday, April 19—It’s another “Let’s Talk” movie special, with a film set during the Great Depression. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway star in this transformative film about famous outlaw lovers. It’s rated R, and we’ll have free popcorn.
*Friday, April 20—The Teen Magic: The Gathering Club will meet at 3:45 p.m. upstairs. And then at 6 p.m., don’t forget the book sale at St. John’s Gym.
*Saturday, April 21—Book sale at 8 a.m., St. John’s Gym. Be there! Or be all wet.
*Monday, April 23—The Teen Book Club will meet at 4 p.m. to discuss “This Brave Balance” by Rusalka Reh.
*Tuesday, April 24—Socrates Café, in the Conference Room, begins at 10 a.m. with a presentation about Socrates himself from participant J. Michael Matkin. Then we’ll enjoy our brunch and discuss a question from one of the group members. It’s a great way to meet new, interesting people and learn to “agree to disagree.” You should attend.
*Also, Tuesday, April 24—The Teen Movie begins at 3:45 p.m. See Erin for details.
*Thursday, April 26—Dr. Trisha Yarbrough will present “Whose Names Are Unknown” by Sanora Babb at 6 p.m. in the Whiteacre Room, as “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma” continues. This novel was rescued from obscurity by the University of Oklahoma Press after being overshadowed in 1939 by Steinbeck’s masterpiece. Learn the fascinating story about the book by attending.
*Saturday, April 28—The Documentary Matinee at 2 p.m. features a 2011 PG-13 rated film about a chimp raised as human. The film will be available for public showing only until May 2, so see it while you can!
*Monday, April 30—The First-Run Indie Movie this month is “Before Your Eyes,” the story of Turkish Kurd orphans who plot to revenge their parents’ murder. This unrated drama will be presented with English subtitles.
In addition to all this, Miss Anita has all her regular children’s activities every week. Check at the front desk for a calendar.
Hope to see you at the library!
McBook 