By KATHY McGILBERRY
It’s time for the March calendar. When I hear the word “march,” my mind goes back to those thrilling days of yesteryear when my old high school drill team marched in the McAlester Armed Forces Day Parade. We had a cadence counts that urged us to “Sound Off…One-Two! Sound Off…Three-Four!” That kept us in step, in line and in the know.
Keep that in the back of your mind as we move through this month’s McAlester Public Library activities and you’ll be in the know too. So much is going on, we’ve divided things into a handy 1-2-3-4 cadence count of things you can march in and enjoy. And these are just the top four categories; you’ll find much more as we high-step our way through the month.
- Movie Premiere/Concert
- History at High Noon
- Computer/Legal Classes
- Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma
Children of the Civil Rights, a new documentary from director Julia Clifford, will premiere at McAlester Public Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. This documentary, detailing the lunch counter sit-ins in downtown Oklahoma City in the late 1950s and early 1960s, came about after a conversation between the director and her elderly father. It features U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Oklahoma journalist and McAlester native Frosty Troy, and a panel of activists who took part in the sit-ins.
Clifford, an Ardmore native now living in Bellingham, Washington, asked her father which of his accomplishments made him most proud, and he told her about the sit-ins. Not having been schooled about the deeds of Oklahoma civil rights pioneer Clara Luper, who led the Oklahoma City protests, Clifford set out to learn the facts behind this little-known chapter in U.S. history.
The result is the new documentary, which premiered to sold-out houses in Oklahoma City, and will be screened in Tulsa the evening of March 7. Before the Tulsa showing, however, Clifford has agreed to make the film available to a McAlester audience for free. Following the screening, she will answer questions until approximately 2:30 p.m. at the library. Then, a special musical performance by Southeast Oklahoma’s The Baileys will round out the afternoon.
Our History at High Noon series is going strong, with four more Friday noon lunch-and-local-history programs for you. For the March 6 presentation by author Marjorie Barton on the Works Progress Administration, our new Digital Photography Group has taken photos of local W.P.A. projects for a special display, too. Come see! Then keep coming back every Friday for programs on McAlester philanthropist J.G. Puterbaugh, local artifact hunting, and more.
Next, you’ll want to register for a free Computer Skills Workshop March 18-20 from 3-4 p.m. each day. You’ll learn computer basics, Microsoft Word, email, Facebook, online search, tips and tricks and online safety. No prior computer experience is necessary, and you’ll get one-on-one instruction as needed. Call the library to reserve your spot.
Our first free Legal Community Education class from Legal Services of Oklahoma on Making Your Own Will was snowed out, and has been moved to Tuesday, May 26. We’ll begin instead on March 31 with a class on Power of Attorney and Advance Directives. Join us at 6 p.m.; no registration is needed.
And anyone who loves literature, philosophy, politics and discussion will want to be a part of Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma which begins March 12. Our theme, Individual Rights and Community in America, is sure to spur lively discussion. You get a free set of books to keep, too. Stop by the library to pick up your copies of Democracy in America, Coriolanus, The Social Contract and The Scarlet Letter. Visiting professors will present scholarly talks on each book before we enjoy a light supper and discuss each book. We have door prizes, too. Students, this is your chance to get some extra credit. Join us!
Now here’s the month of March, every step of the way:
Tuesday, March 3—Lap Sit Story time on this and every Tuesday, 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Game Time prep for Teens, 3:45 p.m., to unlock Wii U characters.
Wednesday, March 4—Story Time, 10 a.m.; Listen to Ellen Barlow with all the library news on KNED-AM’s Party Line with Megan Waters at 11 a.m.; Yu-Gi-Oh Club, 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, March 5—The Bookies book club will meet at 1 p.m. to discuss The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day; Teen Game Time, 3:45 p.m. on this and every Thursday afternoon; Let’s Talk Documentary Special, 5:30 p.m. Plus, this day is Library Snapshot Day, when we’ll be taking photos of all the great things going on in the library.
Friday, March 6—History at High Noon, with Marjorie Barton, author of Leaning on a Legacy: The WPA in Oklahoma, free lunch and local history.
Saturday, March 7—Children of the Civil Rights documentary premiere 1 p.m.; Q&A with director Julia Clifford, 2 p.m.; The Baileys in Concert, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8—Digital Photography Group Workshop, 1:30- 4:30 p.m.
Monday, March 9—Teen Lacqueristas and Lacqueristos, Tech Edition, 3:35 p.m.; Arthouse Theater, 6 p.m. See the winner of the Best Picture Academy Award. Free popcorn at this and all our movies.
Tuesday, March 10—Special Program for Teen Tech Week: Pizza Reviews, 4:00. Teens will eat and judge different pizzas and record their reviews.
Wednesday, March 11—Creative Crafts for Adults, 1:30 p.m., making Easter Egg/Spring wreaths. Spaces are limited, so call ahead to register. The Sci-Fi with Clout book group meets at 6 p.m. to discuss A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Thursday, March 12—Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma, 6 p.m. Dr. Rex Morrell presents Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville.
Friday, March 13—History at High Noon. The previously-announced program on Newswomen of McAlester has been cancelled and a new topic will be announced prior to the program.
Saturday, March 14—Second Saturday Cinema, 2 p.m. See the winner of the Best Animated Feature Academy Award. Free popcorn at this fun family film.
Monday, March 16—Library closed for one day only, Spring Break holiday.
Tuesday, March 17—Friends of the Library, noon luncheon. Sherman Miller will speak about landscaping and land maintenance for the City of McAlester; Teen Cooking Class, breakfast foods, 3:45 p.m.; Night Readers, 6:30 p.m., discussing Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit.
Wednesday, March 18—Computer Class, 3 p.m.; SteamPunk Movie Special, 6 p.m., an anime release inspired by the 1927 silent film Metropolis.
Thursday, March 19—Computer Class, 3 p.m.; Let’s Talk Movie Special, 6 p.m., 2011 version of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus.
Friday, March 20—History at High Noon, On the Road with Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Puterbaugh, presented by John Shuller; Computer Class, 3 p.m.
Monday, March 23—Light Readers, 6 p.m., discussing The Widow’s War by Sally Cabot Gunning, as well as Sister Eve, Private Eye by Lynne Hinton.
Tuesday, March 24—The Community Action Teens (CATs) group will meet at 3:45 p.m. to make plans for their first fundraiser.
Wednesday, March 25—Teen Board Games/Cards, 3:45 p.m.; The SteamPunk book group will meet at 6 p.m. to discuss Homunculus by James P. Blaylock.
Thursday, March 26—Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma, 6 p.m., Dr. Kenneth Hada presents Coriolanus by William Shakespeare.
Friday, March 27—History at High Noon, Author Bill Anderson presents A Story in Stone: 50 Years Searching for Indian Relics in SE Oklahoma.
Saturday, March 28—Documentary Matinee, 2 p.m., a special documentary for Women’s History Month.
Monday, March 30—Teen Advisory Group/Book Club, 4 p.m., discussing The Testing by Joella Charbonneau; Digital Photo Group, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 31—Yu-Gi-Oh Club, 3:45 p.m.; Legal Community Education, Power of Attorney and Advance Directives, 6 p.m.
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