Big, Big Book at Big Read Parade

TRUE GRIT PARADE—McAlester Public Library Teen Librarian Erin Austin works on a giant version of the original True Grit book cover, published in 1968, which will be part of the library’s float in the big True Grit Day parade this Saturday at the Old Town Wild West Festival. Entries in the 9 a.m. parade include authentic 1870s wagons and stagecoaches, riders, marchers, floats from churches and businesses, an appearance by Belle Starr, and an engine from the McAlester Fire Department. The parade will move south to north on Main Street beginning at the entrance to the Old Town Historic District, then proceed east to circle Hutchinson Park and the Tobucksy Courthouse. Saturday will be proclaimed True Grit Day in McAlester by Mayor Steve Harrison as part of the Wild West Festival and the kickoff of the library’s six-week lineup of events celebrating the Portis novel. Citizens are being asked to read the book and attend at least one library program about the beloved American Western.

Costume Contest Set for Big Read at Wild West Festival

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN COSTUME to read the Charles Portis classic Western novel “True Grit,” like McAlester Public Library circulation librarian Janice Saaranen, left, and Library Assistant Ellen Barlow. But you do have to dress in your best Western costume to be a part of the library’s big costume contest. It is set for the afternoon immediately following the noon re-enactment of the murder of Frank Ross, the event driving the plot of True Grit. Festival-goers who come dressed as their favorite character from  “True Grit,” or dressed in the style of the 1800s, will be eligible to win prizes. Best Costume prizes will go to a male and female winner, age 13 and over; and a boy and girl winner, age 12 and under. Prizes include two $25 gift certificates from The Whistle Stop Bistro, copies of the movie “True Grit” starring John Wayne and Kim Darby,  Western-themed toys, and goody bags of candy. Later that evening, the library will sponsor the outdoor screening of the 1968 version of the movie, after a big chuck wagon feed. For more information on any Big Read programs, call the library at 918-426-0930.

Student Contests Underway for True Grit Big Read

Students across Southeast Oklahoma are invited to submit entries in four contests now underway as part of The Big Read, according to Christine Sauro, Head Librarian at McAlester Public Library.

 The book “True Grit” is the focus of the six-week Big Read program, designed to encourage reading for pleasure.

 Information and rules packets were distributed to school districts across the area recently, seeking entries in essay, poetry, art and video contests. Deadline for submitting entries is September 30. Winners from the McAlester area will be named in two age divisions in mid-October.

 Those winners will compete with others from across the service area of the Southeastern Public Library System of Oklahoma (SEPLSO), and Grand Prize Winners will be recognized at the close of The Big Read in mid-November.

 McAlester-area winners will be recognized at the Keynote Banquet Saturday, November 16, when Channel Six weatherman and McAlester native Alan Crone will emcee.

 Complete rules are available at the library’s website, www.mcalesterlibrary.net , at The Big Read page. Entries may be submitted to the library at: McAlester Public Library, 401 N. 2^nd, McAlester, OK 74501 or online to forrest@oklibrary.net. Each entry must be accompanied by a signed Contest Entry/Display Agreement, and must be original work.

 The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Getting Ready for The Big Read/True Grit

By KATHY McGILBERRY

Even though our activities for The Big Read/True Grit don’t begin until Saturday, October 5, you’ll find lots this month at McAlester Public Library to get things prepared for our gigantic six-week celebration of Charles Portis’s classic Western. In fact, so much is planned we need a passel of volunteers to help us.

We’re putting out the call for volunteers to come to the Whiteacre Room on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m., and we’ll get organized. We need book discussion leaders, helpers for the Kickoff parade and chuck wagon feed, judges for contests and much more. We need actors, equestrians, historians, and educators. But most of all we need readers.

You’ll find multiple copies of “True Gri”t available to check out now on a special display near the front desk. Later, we’ll have copies for our book clubs to sign out. We have placed copies of the book at local and area schools. In the meantime, we have instructions on how you can download the original serialized version of “True Gri”t as it first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post magazine. Our SEPLSO’s Big Read/True Grit Facebook page has a link to a graphic novel version of the story. Visit our website, www.mcalesterlibrary.net, and look for the “True Grit” page, with lots of interesting links.

We’re asking everyone in town to read the book and pledge to attend at least one “True Grit” program this fall. We’ll have more news about programs later, but they will include expert presentations on outlaws, Texas Rangers, U.S. marshals, territorial women and more. We’ll have plenty of local history, too. As you’ll recall, town founder J.J. McAlester and his store figure in the plot.

Meanwhile, here’s a full schedule for September:

*Saturday, Sept. 7—Coffee with the Council, 10 a.m. McAlester City Council members Buddy Garvin and Travis Read answer your questions. Free coffee and donuts.

*Monday, Sept. 9—Arthouse Theater, 6 p.m. Joan Crawford has the lead role in a classic Western, proving that Mattie Ross of “True Grit” is not the only female main character in this genre. Free popcorn.

*Wednesday, Sept. 11—In lieu of our usual Free Crafts Workshop, we’ll be having an organizational meeting for knitting classes, to be taught by Frances Walker. That group will meet in the Conference Room at 1:30 p.m. If you want to learn to knit, or improve your knitting skills, please join us.

*Thursday, Sept. 12—It’s the big Volunteer Roundup. We need you. The rewards are many. It all begins at 6 p.m.

*Saturday, Sept. 14—Coffee with the Council, 10 a.m., with Mayor Steve Harrison and Councilman Sam Mason; Second Saturday Cinema, 2 p.m., Whiteacre Room, featuring a funny family Western. Henry Fonda and Terence Hill star in the PG flick. Nobody should miss it.

*Monday, Sept. 16—Light Readers meet at 6 p.m. to discuss “Greenwood and Archer” by Marlene Banks. Free refreshments.

*Tuesday, Sept. 17—Friends of the Library meet at noon to hear scholarly program by Dr. Trisha Yarbough. Then at 6:30 p.m., the Night Readers meet to discuss “Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern.

*Saturday, Sept. 21—Coffee with the Council, 10 a.m., with Councilmen Weldon Smith and Robert Karr.

*Tuesday, Sept. 24—Socrates Café, 10 a.m., Conference Room. Philosophical discussion in a friendly atmosphere. Brunch, too.

*Thursday, Sept. 26—Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma begins with the theme “Oklahoma Private Investigations.” Dr. Bill Hagen presents “The Old Buzzard Had It Coming” by Donis Casey at 6 p.m. Free refreshments and book discussion, in the Whiteacre Room.

*Saturday, Sept. 28—Coffee with the Council, 10 a.m., with Mayor Steve Harrison and Councilman John Titsworth; Documentary Matinee, 2 p.m., featuring a newly-released documentary about Wikileaks.

*Monday, Sept. 30—Our Film Movement first-run independent movie this month, showing a 6 p.m., will be “Shun Li and the Poet.” Free popcorn as always.

Hope to see you at the library.