McBook

Eeeeeek!

2008-06-06T22:15:34Z

TROPICAL ILLUSIONS got a bit startling Wednesday at McAlester Public Library, when one young patron was surprised by what came out of the snake basket. Chris and Audrey Moss put on quite a show for the first summer reading program, utilizing the statewide theme "Catch the Reading Bug." Morning and afternoon shows taught youngsters all about conservation, animals and insects. Next week's show will feature song and dance man Monty Harper.

Book Clubs Select July-December Reading

2008-05-27T16:05:41Z

Both the Bodacious Bookies and the Night Readers have announced their reading choices for the remainder of 2008. The Bodacious Bookies meet from 1-3 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the conference room. The Night Readers meet at 6:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month, also in the conference room.

The July-December choices of the Bodacious Bookies are: July 3, "The Accidental Tourist," by Anne Tyler; Aug. 7, "Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind," by Ann B. Ross; Sept. 4, "Black Sunday," by Thomas Harris; Oct. 2, "How to Be Lost," by Amanda Eyre Ward; Nov. 6, Reader's Choice, plus voting on January-June 2009 choices; and Dec. 4, "The Guns of the South," by Harry Turtledove.

The July-December choices of the Night Readers are: July 15, "Memoirs of a Geisha," by Arthur Golden; Aug. 19, "Disgrace," by J.M. Coetzee; Sept. 16, "Atonement" by Ian McEwan; Oct. 21, "Wuthering Heights," by Emily Bronte; Nov. 18, "The Uses of Enchantment," by Heidi Julavits; and Dec. 16, "Heartburn," by Nora Ephron. The group also plans to view film adaptations in July, September, October and December. Times for the movies will be announced at a later date.

Author Sheds Light On Gnostic Gospels, Early Church

2008-05-23T17:27:57Z

WRITER AND SPEAKER J. Michael Matkin, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Gnostic Gospels" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Early Christianity," spoke Thursday night at McAlester Public Library. Matkin's presentation covered the gnostic traditions in several cultures, the discoveries of the texts, and brief overviews of the Gospels of Thomas, Phillip, Mary and the Egyptians and the Gospel of Truth. He also spoke of the purported "Q" document. The audience of about 20 had a variety of questions for the author.

Tickets On Sale At Library

2008-05-21T16:30:41Z

POSTERS AND FLYERS are going up all over town to promote the comic murder mystery "A Gram of Greed, A Dash of Death," Saturday, May 31 at McAlester Public Library and the Masonic Temple. Assistant Librarian Kathy McGilberry says tickets are still available from Rite Care Clinic at 426-2300 or at the library, 402 North 2nd.

June Children's, Teen Calendars Available

2008-05-16T21:37:11Z

Children's Librarian Anita Ross and Teen Librarian Sarah Brown have been busy planning activities for the summer reading program, and calendars are now available showing all the details. Patrons will find them available in a display near the front desk.

The theme for children's activities this year is "Catch the Reading Bug." And for young adults, the theme is "Metamorphosis @ Your Library."

Children's activities begin Monday, June 2 with "lunch bunch," and continue each weekday of the month with regular programs, story times and movies. The main programs each week are on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. June programs include: "Tropical Illusions," "Monty Harper Music and Songs," Chris Wilkerson of the Science Museum and Magician Steve Crawford.

Young adult activities also begin Monday, June 2 with a 5:30 p.m. meeting of the recently-organized Manga Club. Other scheduled activities include Teen Movie Nights, Game Time, a mother-daughter Mary Kay Makeover night, for which registration is required, and a forensic science presentation. All young adult activities are for those in grades 6-12. Participants who register for the summer reading program will earn points toward special prizes when they attend certain programs, do book reviews or complete other fun activities.

Who Will Survive 'A Gram of Greed, A Dash Of Death'?

2008-05-14T15:59:30Z

THE CAST AND CREW of the comic murder mystery "A Gram of Greed, A Dash of Death" met for the first run-through Tuesday night at the Masonic Temple. Co-author Justin Horne, far left, listens as the cast discuss their characterizations. Those participating include: Bob Segal as Gason LeTourniquet; Stroud Holt as Charleston Q. Balfour; Krista Abernathy as Bootsie Velvoon; Tarrant King as Nestor Groat; Tedi Graham as Teeter Tomazelli; John Turnauckas as Valentino Santana; Justin Horne as Inspector Les Babble; Dorothy Turnauckas as Sergeant #1; Martha Barber as Sergeant #2; Maggie Barber as Sergeant #3; Laurie Cagle as Sergeant #4; Brian Engleman as Whip Tatum; Quentin Graham as Spago Botulley; and Christine Sauro as the Greeter. Mark and Ellen Barber are co-directors. Sharon McDaniel is co-author, with Horne. Kathy McGilberry is handling publicity. The Rite Care Clinic and Friends of the Library will benefit from ticket sales. To get tickets call the clinic at 426-2300 or come by the library at 401 North 2nd.

Through The Display Case Glass

2008-05-12T16:38:32Z

NEW TEEN LIBRARIAN Sarah Brown is currently sharing her collection of Alice in Wonderland and Lewis Carroll memorabilia through a display set up in the lobby. The collection contains a tea set, cardboard cut-outs, a cookie jar, playing cards, figurines, books, tins and a music box.

Many May Activities At The Library

2008-05-06T20:16:55Z

Activities are as varied as the flowers of May this month at the library. With the addition of a new teen librarian, Sarah Brown; the usual activities for young children; the conclusion of the spring "Let's Talk About It;" and the regular Saturday movie, there are plenty of things to do.

But much, much more is scheduled this month.

On Monday, May 5, a special display went up near the front desk, courtesy of Reference Librarian Christopher Elliott. It's all about germs and viruses and plagues and icky things. The theme was suggested by this month's featured movie in our Second Saturday Cinema.

The full slate of activities includes:

Thursday, May 8, 6-8 p.m.--The final "Let's Talk About It, Oklahoma" of the season. Scholar David Laney of Northeastern State University will present "Cozy" by Parnell Hall, the final book in a series starring sleuth Stanley Hastings. Lots of good refreshments will be served, and the public is urged to attend. There will also be a sneak preview of the fall theme and books.

Friday, May 9, 3:30-5:30 p.m.--In the Whiteacre Room East there will be video games on the library's new Wii System, projected onto the big screen. Lots of fun for grades 6-12 and free snacks too.

Saturday, May 10, 2 p.m.--Second Saturday Cinema. Will Smith is the last man on earth, not counting mutants. You'll enjoy this remake of The Omega Man, and don't forget--free popcorn and a prize drawing after the movie.

May 12-17 is "Children's Book Week" and "Reading Is Fun Week." Check out a few books for your favorite child and make sure they know how incredibly cool reading is.

Tuesday, May 20, Noon--Friends of the Library meet for a Reader's Choice discussion of fun books, summer books, favorite books and notable books. Every kind but boring books.

Tuesday, May 20, 6:30 p.m.--Night Readers meet in the Conference Room to discuss Rohinton Mistry's "Family Matters." After the discussion, the group will decide their reading choices for July-December of this year.

Thursday, May 22, 6:30 p.m.--A special program for adults, "The Gnostic Gospels and the Early Church," a presentation by author and speaker J. Michael Matkin. He is the author of two books; a recent transplant to McAlester from Bellingham, Washington; the father of two; and the husband of a McAlester native. If you want to learn more about the discoveries at Nag Hammadi, or Gnosticism in general, please attend. There will be a question-and-answer session following his presentation.

Friday, May 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m.--More Wii games in the Whiteacre East for kids in grades 6-12. Free snacks, a big screen, lots of fun!

Monday, May 26--CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY.

Tuesday, May 27, 5:30 p.m.--Children's Librarian Anita Ross has lots of family fun planned for her third "Family Fun Night." The event, for families with young children, will feature a light supper.

And the big finale!

Saturday, May 31, 5:30 p.m.--"A Gram of Greed, a Dash of Death," the locally written-producted-directed-and-acted murder mystery starring many of your favorite Friends of the Library and community volunteers. Tickets are $50 and are well worth it! For that price you get: hors d'oeuvres at McAlester Public Library prepared by the Assistant Librarian and Quentin Graham (aka Spago Botulley); a tour of special, non-public, areas of the Masonic Temple; a fantastic steak dinner with all the extras, prepared by Brian Engleman (aka Whip Tatum); the opportunity to be deputized and solve a crime; and special prizes for the winning sleuths. This promises to be a night you'll never forget! All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Library and the Rite Care Clinic, for children with communication difficulties.

To learn more about the event, or to purchase your tickets, call the Clinic at 426-2300, or come by the library. We'll be happy to tell you more about it!

We Have A Winner!

2008-05-01T21:30:17Z

A lucky patron named Brittany won the contest that began during National Library Week. She checked out Elizabeth Berg's "Say When," the most popular book at McAlester Public Library, as determined by total number of checkouts.

For her persistence in going through the list and checking out the books she thought the most likely possibilities, Brittany won a bag full of special prizes. Her winnings included: crossword books, puzzle books, a gift box filled with vanilla lotions and soaps, bookmarks, posters, candies, and other surprises. Congratulations, Brittany!

No Winner, So Contest Continues

2008-04-21T15:08:38Z

There was no winner in the National Library Week contest at McAlester Public Library, so the contest will continue until the most-popular book at the library is once again checked out.

To assist those trying to determine the most-popular book, there are flyers placed throughout the library with a list of 61 possibilities. For those who want to peruse the list online, here it is:

Echoes, Danielle Steel
Where the Heart Is, Billie Letts
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
How to Eat Fried Worms, Thomas Rockwell
Holes, Louis Sachar
Five Complete Novels, Barbara Cartland
Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
Dave Barry’s Guide to Guys, Dave Barry
Betty Crocker Cookbook, Betty Crocker
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte
Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier
Fire in Beulah, Rilla Askew
Valley of the Dolls, Jacqueline Susann
A Million Little Pieces, James Frey
Chilton’s Auto Service Manual 2002, Kevin M.G. Maher
My Story, Marilyn Monroe
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, John R. Erickson
Holy Bible, Tyndale House Publishers
The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton
An Innocent Man, John Grisham
Goodnight, Moon, Margaret Wise Brown
The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
Eight Weeks to Optimum Health, Andrew Weil
Encyclopedia of Home Designs, Jan Prideaux
Eragon, Christopher Paolini
Portnoy’s Complaint, Philip Roth
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Dragonquest, Anne McCaffrey
Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson
When Joy Came to Stay, Karen Kingsbury
Apollyon: The Destroyer is Unleashed, Tim F.
LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
The Meeting Place, Janette Oke
The Reckoning, Beverly Lewis
Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy, Marc Tolon Brown
Tracks, David Galef
Pooh’s Easter Egg Hunt, Isabel Gaines
Who Loves Me Best? Kirsten Hall
Danny and the Dinosaur, Syd Hoff
The Eye Book, Theo LeSieg
Please Try to Remember the First of Octember,
Theo LeSieg
Smokey, Bill Peet
Great Day for Up! Dr. Seuss
Say When, Elizabeth Berg
Send No Flowers, Sandra Brown
The Alibi, Sandra Brown
The Edge, Catherine Coulter
I Spy Treasure Hunt: A Book of Picture Riddles,
Walter Wick
Junie B. Jones Is a Beauty Shop Guy, Barbara Park
Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
High Five, Janet Evanovich
The Brethren, John Grisham
The Killing Game, Iris Johansen
A New Song, Jan Karon
Ultraprevention: The 6-Week Plan That Will Make
You Healthy for Life, Mark Hyman and Mark Liponis
Oklahoma Gardener’s Guide: The What, Where, and
Why of Landscape Gardening in Oklahoma, Steve Dobbs
Fannie Flagg’s Original Whistle Stop Café Cookbook, Fannie Flagg

Contest For National Library Week

2008-04-15T21:20:39Z

What's the most popular book at McAlester Public Library? We've determined the most-circulated book on our shelves, and this week during National Library Week, we're inviting the public to try to figure it out too.

Library staff has compiled a list of top-circulating titles in fiction, nonfiction and children's literature. To that list we've added a number of red herrings. Lists are printed on flyers and posters throughout the library. The lucky patron who checks out the single most popular book anytime before Library Week ends April 19 will win a bag stuffed with books, puzzles, scents, bookmarks, doo-dads, candies and other surprises.

Communities across the country will celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries, librarians and library workers by offering special programs and services during the special week of April 13-19.

This year, National Library Week marks its 50th anniversary with the theme “Join the circle of knowledge @ your library®.” All types of libraries—school, public, academic and special—participate.

This year’s National Library Week honorary chair is the beloved entertainer and author Julie Andrews, known for her roles in such classic movies as “The Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins,” and such books as Thanks to You—Wisdom from Mother and Child and The Great American Mousical. In her role as chair, Andrews has produced a series of television and radio Public Service Announcements for National Library Week, which are available at http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/andrews.htm.

National Library Week events include the celebration of National Library Workers Day on April 15; Support Teen Literature Day on April 17, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the ALA; Gaming@ your library, a series of special gaming programs and events, on April 18; and the release of the 2007 State of America’s Libraries (SAL) report on April 14. In addition to National Library Week, many school libraries also celebrate the month of April as School Library Media Month, sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), a division of the ALA.

Launched in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the ALA and libraries across the country to honor the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. For more information on National Library Week, please visit the Campaign for America’s Libraries Web site at www.ala.org .

Friends Book Sale Starts Today

2008-04-11T21:58:38Z

The annual Friends of the Library Book Sale begins today. The doors open at 6 p.m. for a special preview sale at St. John's gym, 318 E. Washington. There will be a $5 admission charge, and the pre-sale continues until 8 p.m.

Then Saturday morning at 8 a.m., the free admission sale begins. Friends will be on hand to sell books, audiobooks, music, puzzles, videos and other items. All proceeds go toward funding library projects and fixtures. The sale is set to end at 1 p.m.

A companion sale will also be ongoing across the street at All Saints Episcopal Church. Their sale will feature a coffee bar and baked goods.

Whirlwind Of April Events At Library

2008-04-04T21:33:56Z

April started with a tornado warning here in McAlester, and the whirlwind theme just keeps spinning away with lots of events and celebrations. Patrons might want to look for a tornado-themed display near the front desk, courtesy of Reference Librarian Christopher Elliott.

The final sessions of free tax help wind up April 2, 7, 9 and 14. Volunteers from the American Assocation of Retired Persons have had their hands full with regular tax preparation, as well as serving many additional filers due to the stimulus package.

Anthony Smart has another month of free internet classes scheduled. Every Tuesday in the computer lab, beginners are welcome to learn more about how to navigate the World Wide Web. Classes start at 6 p.m. Call 426-0930 to pre-register.

Bodacious Bookies met April 3 to discuss "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. Janice Saaranen had a circus-themed event, with many other reading suggestions set in circuses. Popcorn and cotton candy served as refreshments. The Bookies meet the first Thursday of every month from 1-3 p.m. in the Conference Room. Their next book will be "Double Whammy" by Carl Hiaasen.

The Thin Man Movie Festival skips trippingly along, with 6 p.m. showings. Moviegoers watched a second feature on April 3, and on April 17 the next movie in the series will flicker across the big screen in the Whiteacre Room East.

The weekend of April 11-12 will be busy for the Friends of the Library. The annual book sale begins with an early-bird sale from 6-8 p.m. at St. John's Gym. Admission is $5. Then the next morning the doors open for a free-admission free-for-all, with wheeling and dealing from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Those who are not too worn out after the sale should come on down to the library for the regular showing of the Second Saturday Cinema. This month's movie stars Will Ferrell and Jon Heder. They're on ice skates and wearing spangles. There will be free popcorn and a prize drawing.

Friends of the Library meet at noon April 15, and also on that day, the Night Readers will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room to discuss Hal Borland's "When the Legends Die."

Children's Librarian Anita Ross has scheduled her second Family Fun Night for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 in the Whiteacre Room West. There will be lots of fun for all members of the family.

Two "Let's Talk About It, Oklahoma" sessions are set this month. The first, on April 10, features a presentation by Dr. Alvin O. Turner, who will dissect Carl Hiaasen's "Native Tongue" for the group. Then on Thursday, April 24, Bill Hagen will help the group get a better understanding of Janet Evanovich's "One for the Money." Both sessions start at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. Refreshments will be served at midpoint, and there are door prizes too.

National Library Week is April 13-19. Stop in the library often just to be sure you don't miss anything!

Scissortail Writing Festival This Week In Ada

2008-04-01T20:27:47Z

East Central University in Ada will be the site of the third annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival April 3-5.

Among the writers scheduled to attend are: Diane Glancy, author of "Pushing the Bear" and "The West Pole;" Dayna Dunbar, author of "The "Out Here in the Out There" and "Good Friday."

The festival will also feature Carl Hamilton, Steven Schroeder, Tim Tingle, Rilla Askew and many other regional, published and emerging authors. The Darryl Fisher High School Creative Writing Contest will be judged.

For more information, contact Ken Hada at 580-559-5557 or Mark Walling at 580-559-5440.

So Funny It Hurts: Library Series Combines Crime, Comedy

2008-02-15T15:26:59Z

Crime and comedy might seem to be polar opposites, but comic elements have been cropping up in crime fiction ever since Edgar Allen Poe wrote the first detective story. Today a growing number of authors deliberately create comic crime novels for an enthusiastic audience.

McAlester Public Library is presenting a series of reading and discussion programs that explore this relatively new genre, beginning March 13 and continuing through May.

The Spring 2008 theme of the “Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma” (LTAIO) program will be “Crime and Comedy: The Lighter Side of Murder and Misdemeanor.” In addition to the five book discussion sessions, other programs and displays will complement the theme.

The schedule includes:
*Thursday, March 13—“The Code of the Woosters” by P.G. Wodehouse, presented by Lewis Parkhill, 6-8 p.m.;
*Thursday, March 27—“The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams” by Lawrence Block, presented by Trisha Yarbrough, 6-8 p.m.;
*Thursday, April 10—“Native Tongue” by Carl Hiaasen, presented by Alvin O. Turner;
*Thursday, April 24—“One for the Money” by Janet Evanovich, presented by William Hagen, 6-8 p.m.; and
*Thursday, May 8—“Cozy” by Parnell Hall, presented by David Laney, 6-8 p.m.

All sessions will be held in the Whiteacre Room, with the scholar’s presentation first, a break for refreshments, then roundtable book discussions. Participants may sign up for the programs and check out books by visiting the library at 401 N. 2nd, said Assistant Librarian Kathy McGilberry, the local coordinator of the program.

“Although these books evoke laughter, they often also deal with serious issues,” said Jennifer Kidney, who developed the theme as state LTAIO director. “Some of the books poke fun at aspects of our society, while others target the mystery genre itself.”

Books, services and other materials for this series are provided by LTAIO, a project of the Oklahoma Humanities Council. The series was funded by a grant from the OHC and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Local funding for the series was provided by Friends of the Library.

Events, Displays For Black History Month

2008-02-11T16:54:38Z

POTTERY FROM NIGERIAN-BORN ARTIST Yusef Etudaiye of McAlester is now on display in the lobby of McAlester Public Library. Etudaiye, who maintains a studio on West Carl Albert and a website at www.etudaiye.com, has loaned several pieces for display during Black History Month. He came to the U.S. at age 19 to study, attended school at Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa and later transferred to Oklahoma State University. Another staff-created display in the main portion of the library highlights African-American achievements. There will also be a week-long series of screenings of the miniseries based on Alex Haley's book "Roots." Those screenings will be on the mezzanine. Other events related to Black History Month are listed on the monthly calendar, available on the website and at the front desk.

Free Tax Preparation At Library

2008-02-08T15:37:50Z

Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons are providing free tax help at McAlester Public Library. The free tax preparation sessions are set for Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., although it is recommended that patrons arrive by at least 3 p.m. in case there is a wait to be seen.

The tax preparation sessions will continue through April 15.

A limited number of state tax forms have been delivered and are now available in the east lobby. Federal forms have been available since mid-January.

What A Surprise!

2008-01-16T20:27:46Z

LIBRARY STAFFER Betty Weeks points out the model on the cover of the February, 2008 Consumer Reports magazine. The woman demonstrating a treadmill is her daughter Carmon, who works for a company that manufactures the exercise machines.

Some Tax Forms Now Available At Library

2008-01-16T15:51:43Z

A limited number of federal tax forms are now available at McAlester Public Library. As forms arrive, they are placed in racks in the east lobby, off the Second Street entrance. Tax forms are provided for individual taxpayers. Tax preparation professionals can order the amount of forms needed by contacting the IRS at www.irs.gov/taxpros and the state at www.oktax.state.ok.us .

Most forms have yet to arrive. Some forms may not arrive until the end of January. There are currently no state tax forms available.

Several IRS tax products have been affected by the final passage of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) “patch” legislation. Corrected copies of these forms must be published and distributed. The following forms will be late in arriving:

*Form 1040 Schedule R, Credit for the Elderly or Disabled;
*Instructions for Form 1040, Schedule R;
*Form 1040A Schedule 2, Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A Filers;
*Instructions for Form 1040A Schedule 2;
*Form 2441, Child and Dependent Care Expenses;
*Instructions for Form 2441;
*Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax—Individuals;
*Instructions for Form 6251;
*Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit;
*Instructions for Form 1116;
*Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels;
*Instructions for Form 4136;
*Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits;
*Form 8396, Mortgage Interest Credit;
*Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses;
*Instructions for Form 8839;
*form 8863, Education Credits;
*Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions;
*Form 8859, District of Columbia First-Time Homebuyer Credit.

Spring Math Sessions Set

2008-01-08T15:52:04Z

Grover Walker, volunteer coordinator and instructor for free math tutoring at McAlester Public Library, has announced the spring schedule.

Beginning January 12 and continuing until May 24, there will be tutoring sessions every Saturday.

The full schedule is: 9:45-10:30 a.m., seventh and eighth grades; 10:30-11:30 a.m., Algebra; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Geometry; and 12:30-1:30 p.m., Algebra II, Calculus, College Algebra and Trigonometry.

"These sessions are mainly for math tutoring, but everyone is welcome who wants to improve his or her math skills," Walker said. "If you have questions contact me at 423-5019."

Students are expected to provide their own transportation, paper and pens.

Carbonated Blast From The Past

2008-01-07T15:56:23Z

TEEN LIBRARIAN Taryn Grippando and Library Assistant Jennifer Buckner admire the circa-1969 Pepsi-Cola can recently uncovered behind a wall fixture at McAlester Public Library. When plumbing problems forced the removal of a medicine cabinet from an old rest room, workers found the old soft drink can.

New Roster Of Books For Night Readers

2007-12-11T16:01:52Z

The Night Readers have chosen six titles for the first half of 2008. At a Nov. 20 meeting, the group chose from 14 nominations. Meeting dates were also set.

The schedule is: January 22, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; February 29, Skinny Dip by Carl Hiaasen; March 25, Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen; April 15, When the Legends Die by Hal Borland; May 20, Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry; and June 17, The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer.

Time For Giving, Time For Guessing

2007-12-05T16:51:22Z

HOLIDAY PRIZES, GIFTS AND MORE--Jennifer White holds one of five Christmas stockings to be given away the week of Dec. 17-21 at McAlester Public Library. Winners will be chosen from entrants in the "Christmas candy" contest. Participants are asked to guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar shown, bottom right. The prize stockings contain copies of Valentine Davies' book, Miracle on 34th Street, "Read Y'all" posters from the Oklahoma Library Association, movies, toys, trinkets and other surprises. Also part of the library's holiday activities are collections for the Youth Emergency Shelter. Patrons are asked to bring nonperishable food items, unwrapped new toys and new clothing for children ages newborn to 18, and leave the donations on special boxes set up near the front desk. Head Librarian Christine Sauro will send all donations to the shelter before the Christmas holiday.

Financial Topics From A Professional

2007-11-14T18:00:47Z

CHARGE IT RIGHT was the title of the program presented by Marketta Grubbs of the Bank of Oklahoma Nov. 13 at McAlester Public Library. Participants learned all about a variety of credit topics, including credit scores, credit cards, payday loans and long-term loans.

Upcoming Program Focuses On Credit Pitfalls

2007-11-09T22:01:56Z

Just in time for the holidays, McAlester Public Library and the Bank of Oklahoma have teamed up to present a one-day event about cash and credit basics.

Marketta Grubbs, Assistant Vice-President and manager of the local BOK branch, will be the speaker for a program entitled “Charge It Right.” It begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 on the library’s mezzanine.

Prior to the presentation, the library will screen a documentary about the U.S. credit crisis. The movie is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

BOK will provide packets of information, and the library will have government documents and other material on a variety of financial topics, including payday loan companies and small lenders.

“The event is free to the public,” said Assistant Librarian Kathy McGilberry, “We encourage students and young people to attend and learn how to avoid some common credit pitfalls.”

For more information, call 426-0930.