By Kathy McGilberry
Sasha the Service Dog was here the day before Independence Day and again every Monday in July to hear the soothing sounds of children reading. Here’s hoping her Fourth of July was not as traumatic as it was for my pooch, who got to hear the sounds of my neighbors blowing things up for days and days and days. The Tales to Tails program continued in August, as we shifted from Summer Reading Program to our regular after-school activities. Look for daily activities for children, as we continue with programs every weekday, with times shifted to an after-school schedule.
The Chess Club also continues. It’s been growing and growing, with children, young adults and now a couple of adults who enjoy the game and enjoy teaching its intricacies to our young strategists.
We were closed July 4, and hope you had a great holiday. Music Man Monty Harper got us back in the Summer Reading spirit July 5, with his usual rousing round of songs. Meanwhile, our teens were busy with a new, popular Pen Pal program. Teen Librarian Yuliya Whorton tweaked an existing program to create secret pen pals among the young people in the SEPLSO service area, and it’s been a big success. Executive Director Michael Hull had Yuliya describe the program at a meeting of the Public Libraries Directors Council.
OSU Extension was a great partner this summer, presenting nine weeks of Thursday morning nutrition programs called Build a Better You. The last presentation was July 27. The group read Stone Soup and made yummy “Dirt Cups.” Creative! Thanks to the OSU Extension workers who made this popular program possible.
Also helping with a free CPR class July 15 was McAlester Regional Health Center. Legal Aid Services also had a day-long program on expungement and fair housing regulations. Our thanks to all.
In addition to all our regular programs, we also hosted three Build a Better McAlester programs on clean water, pollinators and recycling by Pride in McAlester, and finished out our Read and Grow Children’s Reading Grant programs. Our children book club, Great Escape, read Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.
Even though our free lunches through the Summer Nutrition Program ended July 20, and were never available on Fridays, we managed to feed hungry kids every weekday in June and July. With just a little extra expenditure, we were able to host “Corn Dog Fridays” and close out the final week with our annual Hot Dog Feed, plus donations from local restaurants. Thanks so much to all who contributed to help feed the children, who might not otherwise have had a meal on these days.
Teen Book Club finished their second month of discussing a single title, with Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King. So proud of what these kids have done this summer! From making art projects from discarded items, to cooking class, to game times, they have been busy, helpful and well-mannered. There was also a special teen program on Internet Safety. Nail art programs for teens and adult continue, and a new Coloring for Adults program is proving popular. We still have our craft times for all ages.
Our adult book clubs did a little rearranging in July, with a new nonfiction group called Stranger Than Fiction. Their first book was a biography of Alexander Hamilton, and in August they switched gears to the amusing-but-real story Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. Our Bookies group got serious in August with It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, and the Night Readers went to Korea with Still Life with Rice by Helie Lee. Our Sci-Fi and Steampunk groups have officially merged into the Cabinet of Curiosities group, and the Light Readers continue to uplift themselves with inspirational tales. Truly, we have something for everyone. And don’t forget, our 30th year of Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma continues this fall. Books are now here, come and get them.
One of the better-attended children’s programs was the Tae Kwon Do presentation by local martial arts experts. The kids loved learning all the right moves. We also hosted magician Steve Crawford, always a local favorite, and closed out our big performances with Native American Storyteller Will Hill.
Of course, none of these things could happen without strong community support. We were happy to recognize volunteers, community leaders, board members, administration, presenters and others at the annual Advisory Board Appreciation Luncheon Thursday, July 27 at McAlester Country Club. The luncheon was well-attended, and I was happy to conclude the afternoon with a talk recognizing our wonderful staff. As I told the group, we recently had a visit from Dr. Susan Burke, head of the University of Oklahoma School of Library Science, and I was so proud of our library and our staff during her tour.
Finally, members of the SEPLSO Marketing Committee were joined by me and a couple of other ringers as we heard April Miller’s day-long presentation on marketing July 28, which covered everything from the difference between serif and sans serif fonts to social media.
A Field of Their Own: Women and American Indian History, 1830-1941 by John M. Rhea
5-Minute Little Critter Stories by Mercer Mayer
All titles are unabridged audio
McBook 
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