By SARAH STANDISH
February is Black History Month. Also, Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma is returning to the McAlester Public Library, and we started the month by celebrating the first of two holidays with our patrons. On Feb. 4, it was Take Your Child to the Library Day, and on Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 we’ll have plenty of fun programs for you at our Valentine’s Festival.
There’ll be programs for people of all ages, starting with our first Spring Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma book discussion Feb. 23. And on Feb. 21, we will feature a talk by Primus Moore, a community leader who has been the only Black Vice Principal, then Principal, in the McAlester School system. He will tell us about himself and our community’s efforts to have L’Overture School preserved as a museum.
Also, for Black History Month, we’ll be celebrating one family’s folklore – the quilt codes that sparked a debate with historians in the early 2000’s. If you’d like to contribute to our “freedom quilt.” we’ve got quilt squares to be colored, available at the front desk. Our children’s movies and Saturday film choices were all picked with Black History Month in mind.
Looking for something to read that relates to Black History Month? So far, we have three displays in the library highlighting an aspect of Black History, from The Long Civil Rights Movement and The Black Experience in Oklahoma to Nonviolent Resistance.
Here’s a rundown of the rest of the month’s activities:
Friday, Feb 10 – Children in K-5 grades are welcome to come to our after-school coloring program from 3:30-5:30. Teens will meet for one of two spring sessions of Read It! Share It! today at 3:45. The book they’ll be discussing is Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses, a YA fantasy novel. Today, don’t forget to come and Talk Tech with Anthony. He can help you with your electronics-related questions and issues.
Saturday, Feb 11 – Tweens in grades 4-6 are invited to Read It! Share It!, where they’ll discuss Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, starting at 11:00. Our Second Saturday Cinema film, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, spans the years 1909 to 1949, relating the life of a Southern black woman virtually sold into a life of servitude to her brutal husband, a sharecropper. Fresh popcorn is available to those who attend this program. The film starts at 2:00, and is rated PG 13.
Monday, Feb 13 – Are you ready to work on your fitness? We’ve got Sit Fit, an exercise program that’s accessible to those with limited mobility, from 11-11:30. Do you feel like you deserve a treat before Valentine’s Day? Well, come and Pamper Yourself at 2:00 with nail art for adults. We’ve got a great after school Chess Club, for K-5 grades, at 3:30 today. The Community Action Teens will meet to discuss their next community service project today at 3:45. The Light Readers will discuss Fetching Sweetness, by Dana Mentink, at 6:00. There’s always a light snack to share and friendly discussion of the book is encouraged.
Also at 6:00, we’re introducing a brand new program, Language Exchange: Family Game Night. Anyone who speaks Spanish or English fluently is welcome to attend! We’re going to try to play games to encourage language learning on both sides. It should be a lot of fun. At this first meeting, we’ll decide what dates we’ll meet in the future.
Tuesday, Feb 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day! We’ll have Lap Sit from 10-11:00. Bring your baby or young toddler to this program to learn finger plays and sing songs! Our Valentine’s Day Kids Festival is from 4:00-6:00. There’ll be snacks, drinks, games, door prizes, and a chance to take selfies on the Valentine’s Throne! Don’t forget to get your face painted. Oh, and this program is for kids of all ages, so if you feel like a kid and want to join in, please do!
Wednesday, Feb. 15 – Story Time, an early literacy program that encourages the love of reading, will begin at 10. Toddlers are best suited for this program. This afternoon, tweens and little children get to practice being Reading Buddies. This program builds confidence by encouraging children to read aloud with friends. Reading Buddies begins at 3:30.
Thursday, Feb 16 – Children in K-5 grades are invited to play a variety of fun board and card games at our after school Game Time from 3:30-5:30. Teen Game Time, for grades 6-12, starts at 3:45.
Friday, Feb 17 – Looking for something for your child to work on after school? They can color at the library! Children in K-5 grades are welcome to come to our after school coloring program from 3:30-5:30. We provide all the coloring materials. Sixth through 12th graders are invited to come to the Teen Room upstairs to play Super Smash Brothers, board games, and card games too! Teen Game Time starts at 3:45. Have an issue with your tablet or computer? Bring the problem to Anthony this afternoon!
Monday, Feb 20 – The Library will be closed for Presidents Day.
Tuesday, Feb 21 –Lap Sit will be from 10:00-11:00. The Friends of the Library will meet for their 12 o’clock luncheon today. Megan Waters will join us to read works by Robert Burns. A donation of $3 is requested for attendees, but not required. A movie will play in the Whiteacre Room, starting at 3:30, for kids and their families. Fresh-popped popcorn will be available for those who attend. uWrite, a library-hosted teen writing group, will meet today starting at 3:45.
At 6:00, Primus Moore will speak about ongoing work to get L’Overture turned into a museum. At 6:30, The Night Readers will discuss The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard, in the Conference Room.
Wednesday, Feb 22 – Story Time, for little children will start at 10:00. Bring your child or children to hear lively tales and encourage your children to love reading! Reading Buddies encourages little kids and big kids to take turns reading aloud – a great program for hesitant or shy readers! Reading Buddies begins at 3:30. The Steampunk Book Club meets this evening at 6:00 to discuss The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder.
Thursday, Feb 23 – After school Game Time (K-5 graders) starts at 3:30. We’ve got plenty of games for your kids to play! Teens will begin their Game Time at 3:45. Your teens should probably sign up ahead of time, as spaces are limited to 12. Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma! is returning to McAlester starting today. Our first book discussion is about Custer Died for Your Sins, by Vine Deloria, Jr. There’ll be a scholar-led discussion, snacks and a door prize. Come pick up your copy of the book, so you can participate in the discussion, starting at 6:00.
Friday, Feb 24 – Have your kids join our after school coloring today from 3:30-5:30. We provide the coloring sheets. They just provide the creativity! Teens are welcome upstairs in the Teen room, starting at 3:45, to play video, board and card games. This afternoon is a great time to Talk Tech with Anthony – he’ll be happy to help you solve your electronics and computer issues.
Saturday, Feb 25 – This month’s Documentary Matinee at 2 p.m. has you watch as a legendary musical superstar takes the stage one last time in this theatrical concert film compiled from over 100 hours of rehearsal footage for the 50 shows he had been scheduled to perform at the time of his death. This film is rated PG. Fresh popcorn is available to those who attend.
Monday, Feb 27 –We’ve got Sit Fit, an exercise program that’ll start your day off right! And it’s accessible to those with limited mobility too! Sit Fit is from 11:00-11:30. At 3:30, our after school Chess Club starts. The Teen Advisory Group / Book Club will meet today at 3:45 to discuss future programs and books they’ve recently enjoyed. The Great Escape tween book club also meets today at 3:45.
Tuesday, Feb 31 –Lap Sit will meet from 10-11:00. While from 10-12:00, the Socrates Café group will meet in the Conference Room to discuss philosophy. A movie will play in the Whiteacre Room, starting at 3:30, for kids and their families. Fresh-popped popcorn will be available for those who attend. Teens will decorate each other’s nails at their monthly Lacqueristas meeting at 3:45.
I look forward to seeing you at the library!
McBook 