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Let’s Talk About It – Atoka County Library
The Atoka County Library will continue with the Let’s Talk About It series featuring “The Gilded Age” with “The Red Badge of Courage” by Stephane Crane on Thursday, October 5th at 6:00 PM. Dr. Bill Hagen will serve as the evening’s scholar.
Henry Fleming dreams of the thrill of battle and performing heroic deeds in the American Civil War. But his illusions are shattered when he comes face to face with the bloodshed and horrors of war. Now he’s a raw recruit, Henry experiences both fear and self-doubt. Will war make Henry a coward or a hero? A vivid fictionalized account of the experiences of an ordinary innocent young soldier on the battlefields of the American Civil War, introduced by American writer, illustrator and historian, Wendell Minor.
This book discussion will be led by Dr. Bill Hagen, retired from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2012, where he taught courses in Western Civilization, fiction, film, and drama for 38 years. His degrees are from Davidson College (NC), the University of North Carolina, and the University of Iowa. He has published articles on Joseph Conrad, detective fiction, silent Westerns, film adaptations, and regularly reviews for World Literature Today. Articles include “First Ladies of Noir,” in the Oklahoma Humanities Magazine (2016), and two essays on Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, published in the Pioneer Library System Magazine. He writes a monthly column for The Shawnee News-Star. Dr. Hagen has been involved in the Let’s Talk About It programs since the mid-1980s and has authored two themes: Oklahoma Private Investigations and The Oklahoma Experience: Re-Visions. He has served on Pioneer’s Board of Directors and presently serves as president of the Board of the Friends of the Shawnee Library and on the Friends of the Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO) board.
Funding for LTAI is provided in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities (OH) and the Kirkpatrick Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of OH.
This program is free and open to the public. Copies of the books are available at the library. For more information, call the Atoka County Library at (580) 889-3555 or visit us at 279 East A Street in Atoka. The Atoka County Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS).
Book Club – Champion Public Library
Join others at the Champion Public Library for a monthly book club on Thursday, October 5th at 5:30 PM. Conversation, fellowship, and refreshments will be centered on popular book titles for adults to discuss. This month’s book, “The Zookeeper’s Wife” by Diane Ackerman will be discussed.
Jan and Antonina Zabinski were Polish Christian zookeepers horrified by Nazi racism, who managed to save over three hundred people. Yet their story has fallen between the seams of history. Drawing on Antonina’s diary and other historical sources, best-selling naturalist Diane Ackerman vividly re-creates Antonina’s life as “the zookeeper’s wife,” responsible for her own family, the zoo animals, and their “Guests” ― Resistance activists and refugee Jews, many of whom Jan had smuggled from the Warsaw Ghetto. Ironically, the empty zoo cages helped to hide scores of doomed people, who were code-named after the animals whose names they occupied. Others hid in the nooks and crannies of the house itself. Jan led a cell of saboteurs, and the Zabinskis’ young son risked his life carrying food to the Guests, while also tending an eccentric array of creatures in the house. With hidden people having animal names, and pet animals having human names, it’s small wonder the zoo’s codename became “The House Under a Crazy Star.”
Participants are encouraged to check out the book by visiting the Champion Public Library at 601 Railway Express in Ardmore or call (580) 223-3164. The Champion Public Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System.
Coding STEM Class – Atoka County Library
Is your child interested in coding a robot? Join Atoka County Library for Botley 2.0: The Coding Robot on Thursday, October 5th at 4:30 PM. Participants will help Botley 2.0 move and navigate mazes through coding. Spots are available for children ages 5 to 8. Class size is limited so reservations are encouraged.
For more information, contact the Atoka County Library at (580) 889-3555 or visit the library at 279 East A Street in Atoka. The Atoka County Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System.
Escape the Haunted Library: Escape Room Experience – Wilson Public Library
Spooky season is here! Come uncover mysteries and escape the haunted library at Wilson Public Library. Find clues and keys to travel through the library and solve the mystery of the haunting! For patrons ages 13 and up who would like a scary good time, 30-minute time slots are available on Friday, September 29th, and Saturday, September 30th starting at 6:00 PM. For Families who would like to attend and need a sensory-friendly environment, 30-minute time slots will be available on Saturday, September 30th starting at 1:00 PM. Light refreshments will be available. Sign-up is required due to the limited time slots.
What is an escape room? An escape room is a physical adventure game where guests, ranging from 2 to 10 participants, are locked in a themed room and must solve a series of puzzles and riddles to escape before the time runs out. The puzzles can be physical, mental, or a combination of both, and they often require players to search for hidden clues, manipulate objects, or use their senses to uncover hidden elements. These interactive escape games are designed to test your problem-solving skills, teamwork, and creativity as you try to escape before time runs out.
To sign up call the Wilson Public Library at (580) 668-2486. You can visit the library at 1087 US Hwy. 70A in Wilson. The Wilson Public Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS).
Teen Anime & Manga Book Club – Champion Public Library
Teen book club is back! Join us as we read, discuss, and explore the creative world of Japanese manga and animation at Champion Public Library on Thursday, September 28th at 5:30 PM! September’s discussion will focus on an old classic with a twist in “Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 1” by Sorata Akiduki. After discussion, teens will get to participate in an Anime Character Bingo. Guests ages 13 to 17 are welcome to attend. Snacks are to be provided by the library.
Shirayuki is an herbalist famous for her naturally bright red hair, and the prince of Tanbarun wants her all to himself! Unwilling to become the prince’s possession, she seeks shelter in the woods of the neighboring kingdom, where she gains an unlikely ally—the prince of that kingdom! He rescues her from her plight and thus begins the love story between a lovestruck prince and an unusual herbalist.
For more information, or to pick up your copy today, call the Champion Public Library at (580) 223-3164 or visit us at 601 Railway Express in Ardmore. The Champion Public Library is a branch of the Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS).
Celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month -Southern Oklahoma Library System
Do you have a passion for reading and artistic expression? Join Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS) this September in celebrating Library Card Sign-up Month with design your own bookmark contest. Pick up a bookmark contest sheet at your local SOLS branch! This year our theme will be “Journey through Literature”! Draw your favorite scene or character of any book and submit your entry to Library staff by Saturday, September 30th.
Designs will be judged by Library staff based on the following criteria; adherence to theme, originality, artistic skill and technique, and overall appeal. All ages are welcome to participate in one of our five categories; Children ages 3-6 and 7-9, Preteens 10-13, Teens 14-18, and Adults 19 and up. Winners from each age group will be announced on Friday, October 6th. Winning bookmarks will be printed and shared throughout all eight branches! We can’t wait to see your creative designs and share them with our community.
Guidelines for entry are as follows:
- Theme: Design a bookmark that reflects the theme “Journey through Literature”.
- Size: Bookmarks must fit on the contest sheet’s bookmark outline.
- Medium: All entries must be drawn on the entry sheet provided but any traditional medium is acceptable.
- Contact Information: On the sheet, the participant’s name, age, category, and contact information must be clearly stated.
- Originality: Designs must be original and not infringe on any copyright or trademark.
- Submission: Submit to Library staff by the Saturday, September 30th deadline.
For more information or to apply for a library card, please call (580) 223-3164 or visit one of our branches in Ardmore, Atoka, Davis, Healdton, Marietta, Sulphur, Tishomingo, and Wilson.