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THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN A POST-PANDEMIC ERA
About the Panel
Libraries continue to face unprecedented changes to operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Three library executive directors will discuss the state of libraries in a global context: Larry White, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma, US; Stephan Schwering, head of the Central Library in Dusseldorf, Germany; and Simon Smith, Libraries and Museum Manager in Reading, UK. The changing role of libraries, adaptations, new services, and future plans will be discussed in this interview-style virtual event.
In 2021, the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County and International English Library in Dusseldorf formalized a sister library relationship, partnering across the globe to strengthen cultural understanding and cross-promote events to their respective audiences.
About the Panelists
Larry Nash White
Larry Nash White joined MLS August 26, 2019 as the Director of Strategic Planning and Projects and was promoted to the Deputy Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Services on January 24, 2020. Throughout his 25 years of library experience, he has developed an international reputation in organizational performance assessment and competitive information usage. He has 13 years of experience teaching library administration and various aspects of management at the University at Buffalo, SUNY and at East Carolina University. Larry served as Library Director for Washington County Public Library in Marietta, Ohio, and as Director of Library Operations in Bronson, Florida as well as in other public service positions. He has worked as a library consultant and was one of the winners of the 2007 Library Journal “Mover and Shaker” award. Larry has a BA in History from the University of Florida and from Florida State University he holds an MSLS in Library Science and a PhD in Library Administration.
Simon Smith
Simon Smith is currently Reading Libraries and Museum Manager in Reading, UK. Having got his first professional librarian post there he then worked in a variety of library roles in Harrow and Slough before returning to Reading in 2016 as the service manager. Reading has 7 libraries as well as a home service and digital service, and is home to around 165,000 people. Reading is around 40 kms from London, is the home of text messaging, and a full size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry, as well as being internationally known for Oscar Wilde’s ‘Ballad of Reading Gaol’.
Stephan Schwering
Stephan Schwering has held managerial positions in medium-sized city libraries in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) since 1992. He has been head of the Central Library of the Duesseldorf Public Libraries since 2014 and has been largely responsible for the internal future process and the conception of the newly planned Central Library in KAP1, which opened in November 2021.
He considers social media in libraries to be a management task and is intensively involved with community building and analogue-digital library concepts. From 2008 to 2013, Schwering was on the board of the Association of Libraries in North Rhine-Westphalia and from 2008 to 2014 he was a member of the library advisory board of ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH. He is the initiator of the “Night of the Libraries” in North Rhine-Westphalia, which takes place every two years (next in 2023), and is co-founder of the Twitter chat #BibChatDE, in which library topics in public digital spaces have been discussed since 2017. Schwering believes in libraries as THE “third places” for future societies.
Presented by the Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County and the International English Library of Düsseldorf, Germany.
Read Across Oklahoma 2022
Thick Descriptions Announces the 6th Annual Boley s.t.e.A.m. Learning Journey
Zora Neale Hurston, anthropologist and writer said, “those that don’t got it, can’t show it. Those that got it can’t hide it”. “Thick Descriptions is grateful that the Oklahoma Arts Council, Oklahoma Literacy Coalition, and University of Oklahoma Sooner Flight Academy Aviation choose to help people ‘get it’ states Board Chair Monica Hardman.
Thick Descriptions will host our 6th Annual Boley s.t.e.A.m. (science, technology, engineering, Anthropology, and math) Learning Journey Wednesday, August 4 – Friday, August 6, 2021, at the Boley Town Hall, 11 W 3rd Street, Boley, Oklahoma. This year’s theme is aviation.
Click on the QR code below for more information.
Thick Descriptions
Thick Descriptions is committed to education (science empowerment and cultural intelligence) for every Oklahoman. This is executed through several initiatives specifically s.t.e.A.m. (science, technology, engineering, Anthropology, and math) Learning Journeys to historically overlooked youth during school breaks to bridge the learning gap; EITRU (Elephant in the Room – Unboxed), a monthly conversation providing tools and resources to address those “elephant in the room” topics and, OKEE (Oklahoma Educators Evolved), culturally-driven professional development for teachers.
USCIS to Celebrate Independence Day with Naturalization Ceremonies Across the Country
WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate Independence Day this year by welcoming more than 9,400 new citizens in 170 naturalization ceremonies between June 30 and July 7. These ceremonies demonstrate our commitment to welcoming immigrants. USCIS is proud to welcome people from all over the world as our newest U.S. citizens during this celebration of Independence Day.
“This year marks the 245th birthday of our Nation,” said Acting USCIS Director Tracy Renaud. “We are committed to promoting policies and procedures that ensure we operate fairly and efficiently, and continue to encourage and embrace the full participation of the newest Americans in our democracy.”
Each July 4, we celebrate the day the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, declaring that the 13 American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation—the United States of America—and were no longer part of the British Empire. USCIS commemorates this momentous occasion by hosting special Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country.
This year’s Independence Day activities will include two special ceremonies. This includes a naturalization ceremony with President Biden at the White House on July 2 and a ceremony with Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas administering the Oath of Allegiance virtually to 22 military service members serving overseas, which took place on June 30. Additional ceremonies marking this year’s Independence Day include a ceremony with Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien at the USCIS Atlanta office, ceremonies aboard the USS Constitution Museum in Boston with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday and the Battleship USS Iowa in Los Angeles, and a special ceremony at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Throughout all these ceremonies, USCIS will honor and recognize the commitment and contributions immigrants make to our Nation, including military members, front-line workers, and COVID-19 heroes who have played a critical role in helping our country respond to and recover from the COVID-19 global pandemic. View a list of highlighted 2021 Independence Day-themed ceremonies.
USCIS reaffirms its commitment to making the naturalization process accessible to all who are eligible. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration, we have taken a number of steps to support implementation of Executive Order 14012: Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration System and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, including the reinstatement of the 2008 civics test, which took place in February. Reverting to the 2008 civics test was in keeping with other updates with the same purpose.
Following each naturalization ceremony, we encourage new U.S. citizens to share their naturalization stories and photos on social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Read Across Oklahoma 2021
Read Across Oklahoma Returns with a Free Book Giveaway and Online Entertainment and Activities
Read Across Oklahoma, the state’s premiere literary event for preschool and early grade children, returns on Tuesday, April 13 at 9:00 a.m. with a free book giveaway and virtual activities. The first 1,500 children who visit the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden on that day will receive a free book.
Following their Zoo visit, participants can visit the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) website at libraries.ok.gov/read to enjoy a special video of author Tammi Sauer reading the event’s featured book, Wordy Birdy, performances by popular children’s musical group Spaghetti Eddie, additional storytelling, and more. The video also provides a virtual look at the OKC Zoo and some of its animals and habitats.
Read Across Oklahoma is part of the statewide My First Library program coordinated by ODL, an early literacy initiative that helps develop literacy skills and promotes family reading. During a regular school year, the program distributes 1,900 books to early learning classrooms in the Oklahoma City metro area.
“Children who are exposed to books and have books to call their own at an early age develop better vocabularies and are better prepared for school,” according to Leslie Gelders, ODL Literacy Coordinator. “Getting books into the hands of young children is so important, so we were excited to partner with the Zoo to give more books away.”
“The Zoo is thrilled to be part of this year’s virtual Read Across Oklahoma celebration and host a book giveaway, providing guests with new books for their young readers to take home,” said Candice Rennels, OKC Zoo’s director of public relations.
Wordy Birdy, by award-winning Edmond author Tammi Sauer, is an ideal feature book for the event, Gelders said. “Since the character Wordy Birdy is always talking, it’s filled with new vocabulary words. It also imparts a lesson about the importance of listening.”
The virtual side of the event will provide opportunities for children throughout the state to participate, Gelders said. “The video is available directly from ODL’s website, and we also have a variety of exercises including a maze, a coloring page, and learning activities and games related to Wordy Birdy.”
Visit libraries.ok.gov/read to find the virtual activities. Families planning a visit to the Zoo should make their reservations at www.okczoo.org/tickets.
Additional Read Across Oklahoma sponsors include the Krueger Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Pizza Hut, Target, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Teacher Prep Academy, Red Wolves, Metro Technology Center, Feed the Children, and Junior League of Oklahoma City.
For more information about Read Across Oklahoma, contact leslie.gelders@libraries.ok.gov or call 405-522-3242.
Where Do We Go from Here: Race & Literacy in Oklahoma, Part 2
We had a wonderful and enlightening discussion in July. We discussed events in the past and what we can do to move forward. Due to the overwhelming amount of awareness, our next discussion is a continuation of the July conversation. In August, we will continue the discussion of “Where Do We Go from Here: Race and Literacy in Oklahoma, Part 2” on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 am-noon. If you weren’t able to join us in July, you are still welcome to join us in August.
Our conversation will be led by Suzette Chang. She will help us to untangle our thoughts and provide tools and recourse as we discuss, “Where do we go from here?”
Registration is closed.
Suzette Chang is the founder and CEO of Thick Descriptions (TD). Thick Descriptions’ mission is to provide awareness, tools, resources, and context of science (natural and social) for kids, tweens/teens, and adults. For more information, please visit their website.
Where Do We Go from Here: Race and Literacy in Oklahoma
2020 will go down in history as a year in which the world was turned upside down. We have been quarantined, told we don’t need a mask, told that we do need a mask, and told to avoid crowds. Businesses have closed, some temporarily and some permanently. People have been laid off or told to work from home. And all the while, racism has been bubbling to the surface.
Join us Wednesday, July 22, at 10:30 am-11:30 am to start breaking down the issues that are surfacing. We will meet in a safe environment to allow for brave questions to be asked. “What makes someone racist?” “What exactly is white privilege?” “Am I guilty?” “I’m just one person, what can I do to help?” “Is that racist or politically correct?” “How does race affect literacy?” “How does cultural intelligence impact how teachers engage with different racial groups?” “Do racial groups do better being taught by the same ethnicities and races?”
Our conversation will be led by Suzette Chang. She will help us to untangle our thoughts and provide tools and recourse as we discuss, “Where do we go from here?”
2020 OLC-TFCU Partnership Grant
This year the grant was for $2,000. The following organizations met all of the qualifications and submitted winning applications. Congratulations!
| Bartlesville Public Library Literacy Services |
| Community Literacy Centers, Inc |
| Duncan Area Literacy Council |
| Friends of the Guthrie Public Library |
| Great Plains Literacy Council |
| Immigration Center at Western Oaks Church of the Nazarene |
| NWBC Language Learning Fellowship |
| OIC of OK County |
| Oklahoma Christian University: We Speak |
| Oklahoma City Community College Adult Literacy Center |
| Rogers County Literacy Council |
| Stillwater Literacy Council |
In these uncertain times, this grant is even more meaningful to these organizations! Thank you, Tinker Federal Credit Union!
Even Helpers Need Help
The nonprofit industry is the third-largest in America. In Oklahoma, nonprofit organizations employ hundreds of people and serve thousands. They provide food for the hungry, safety for the abused, care for our seniors, and shelter for stray pets. They also provide the community with entertainment, art, trails, gyms, libraries, medical centers, parks, emergency services, places of worship, and much more. Without nonprofits, Oklahoma would be a pretty dull place to live.
We support our favorite nonprofits because we care about the issues they’re addressing and believe the work they’re doing is making a difference. We’re fans and we’re loyal.
Like all businesses, nonprofits in Oklahoma are struggling right now. They’ve had to reduce or cease services and ask staff to remain at home, yet their expenses continue to mount. And some, like those serving seniors, providing hunger relief, or offering mental health services, have seen a substantial spike in demand for their services during the virus crisis.
We must remember, most nonprofits don’t make products or sell services to derive income. They rely wholly, or in part, on donations from people like you and me. Many have little to no reserve funds because supporters often put pressure on them to use all the money they raise to support programming rather than save portions of it (this will surely change).
Money is tight for everyone right now. You may have lost your job, been furloughed, or seen your savings shrink due to a drop on your stock portfolio or 401k. It’s a rough time for everyone.
It’s also a time where it would be easy to look inward and “look out for number one.” But if there was ever a time to look outward and express gratitude to those serving us and our community, this is it.
Therefore, I urge you to make calls or visit the websites of your favorite nonprofits and make a financial gift. By doing so, you’re helping ensure that their services and staff can stay afloat during this time of crisis and be a better position to thrive during the recovery.
Besides a gift, you can support your nonprofit by offering to make phone calls, donate food, shop for seniors, and say prayers. Even sending a note of appreciation or a gift certificate for take-out meals can warm the hearts of staff and make them smile . . . something we all need more of right now. And when the isolation ban is lifted, you can offer to do chores, run errands, or simply offer to volunteer to help them get back on track.
If you’re a major donor, let me encourage you to contact your favorite nonprofits and offer to donate emergency funds or provide zero-interest loans. These funds can help pay for staff wages and health insurance, as well as business expenses, program expenses, and utility bills. It might just be the gift a nonprofit needs to free itself from the financial burdens and anxieties it faces.
The nonprofits in Oklahoma are the cornerstones for much of our culture, fun, and service. In these unsettling times, let’s reassure them with a financial gift and a commitment to help and show them our passion for their success and the well-being of their staff is authentic. In doing so, we’ll keep our nonprofits strong and stable and Oklahoma vibrant.
Moving into 2020
Dear Friend,
As I contemplate the end of 2019, I want to thank you for your support. As a coalition, we are only as strong as our members and partners. We could do nothing without you. Because of our partnership with Tinker Federal Credit Union, your membership, and others like you, we were able to improve literacy in Oklahoma.
In 2019, we furnished 106 full scholarships to our annual conference that provided professional development opportunities to 147 teachers, tutors, staff, and adult learners. We held two regional symposiums (in Tulsa and Altus) to provide training for 48 teachers and tutors.
We recognized adult learners at the Literacy Awards sponsored by Tinker Federal Credit Union and Krueger Charitable Foundation. We partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries’ Literacy Resource Office to host a book signing for the adult learners who contributed to Celebrating our Journey, Volume 11. You could see the glow of accomplishment around the learners!
Thanks to our wonderful partnership with Tinker Federal Credit Union, we were able to financially assist 16 literacy providers. This was used, in part, to:
- offset naturalization service fees for 39 new citizens,
- deliver summer ESL and citizenship classes for an average of 100 adult learners each week,
- supply partial and complete HSE vouchers for 176 people,
- provide teaching materials for literacy, ESL and HSE classes,
- present a volunteer appreciation dinner,
- create professional signage, postcards, and brochures,
- and so much more!
You are the reason we are able to carry out our mission to support literacy efforts statewide. We would never have been able to help so many Oklahomans without the help of our members.
2020 is going to be a full and amazing year for OLC. We have already begun looking ahead and planning. In addition to our annual conference, we will be adding a third regional workshop.
You can join us in making a difference for Oklahomans in 2020 by going here.
Thank you so much,