Oklahoma Department of Libraries: working to preserve history, expand knowledge, and enrich lives

ODL June Newsletter

Oklahoma Department of Libraries sent this bulletin at 06/03/2024 08:00 AM CDT

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June 3, 2024

Monthly Newsletter

I N T H I S B U L L E T I N

From the Director

Resource Sharing

News & Announcements

Dear Readers,

Welcome to our June newsletter! As the summer sun begins to shine brightly, we are excited to kick off one of our favorite library programs—Summer Reading! This annual event is not just about fun and adventure; it's an essential opportunity to keep our young learners engaged and active in their educational journey during the break. Encouraging children to read throughout the summer helps maintain their academic skills, sparks their imagination, and fosters a lifelong love of reading. There are a host of exciting activities, reading challenges, and events lined up to make this summer both enriching and enjoyable for kids of all ages at your local library.

Additionally, we are thrilled to share highlights from the recent Oklahoma Book Awards ceremony. This special evening was a joyful celebration of our state's vibrant literary scene, honoring authors and their remarkable contributions to literature. It was truly a night to remember, filled with inspiring speeches, heartfelt acknowledgments, and a shared love for the written word.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees whose works continue to inspire and enrich our lives.

Thank you for your continued support of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. We look forward to a summer filled with discovery, learning, and lots of great reading!

Natalie

Natalie Currie

Director, State Librarian and Archivist

The day is fast approaching for library staff to fill out the annual report! Get ready to file on July 1st. This year we’ll be using a new annual report software called LibPAS from Counting Opinions.

What is LibPAS?

Like the previous software Bibliostat, LibPAS will allow you to enter your annual report. In addition, you’ll be able to run reports on you data and build infographics. It’s a powerful tool for your data and we’re excited to have it. Be prepared. Add OK@countingopinions.com to your approved/safe senders list in your email settings. On July 1st, you will receive an email from Counting Opinions with your login information. Once logged in, you’ll be taken straight to the report and you can start filling it out.

Email or call Sadie Bruce at sadie.bruce@libraries.ok.gov or call 405-522-3322 for additional information. Join us on Zoom for training on the following dates:

	Data Access and Input Training with Counting Opinions			WED \| 2:00pm

	Annual Report Training with ODL			MON \| 2:00pm

	Reports Access with Counting Opinions			WED \| 2:00pm

Resource Sharing

During the summer months, Brainfuse offers a unique Online Summer Skills Camp. The dreaded “summer slide,” when students lose academic skills over the summer, is one of the most significant causes of the academic achievement gap. The purpose of the Skills Camp is not to provide a comprehensive survey of each academic topic - our SkillSurfer is more suited to that - or to overwhelm
students with information, but to focus on areas that are academically significant, generated the most tutoring questions over the course of the school year, and do not require a significant time commitment over summer vacation. Research shows that even spending a small amount of time on academics over
the course of the summer makes a difference.

Within the Brainfuse Online Summer Skills camp, there are lessons, activities, games, and flashcards – all designed to help make learning fun. It has elementary, middle school, and high school content in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Just like SkillSurfer, much of the content will also have a button at the top where users can connect with a live tutor, use the writing lab, or send a question. There is also a section for parents to help their children with summer learning.

To connect with Brainfuse's HelpNow, look for a link on your local public library's website. While on the Brainfuse HelpNow homepage, simply click on Summer Camp to get started.

OKCareer Guide, offered by CareerTech, is a dynamic online resource for Oklahomans to explore and plan their future careers. It features assessments, occupation identification, education planning, and employer connections, catering to both students and adults. For more information on the following initiatives, visit the OKCareer Guide website to get started!

Kuder Connect 2 Business® (C2B) links individuals in Oklahoma to work-based learning opportunities aligned to their career interests and skills. This is an excellent resource for high school student completing their ICAP. School districts, workforce agencies, and businesses partner to provide individuals with invaluable experiences while growing the local workforce and strengthening community relationships.

Kuder Galaxy is an online career awareness system specifically designed for elementary school students. It aims to introduce children to the concept of careers and help them begin to explore various career paths in a fun and engaging way. Galaxy is a great educational game for public library computers.

If you're a public library working with job seekers in the community, pair Brainfuse's JobNow and OKCareer Guide to better support your customers on their path to success.

News

Libraries have already started kicking off events for Summer Reading, transforming the start of the season into a vibrant celebration of books and learning. Libraries become bustling hubs of excitement, where participants can pick up their reading logs, join book-themed scavenger hunts, or enjoy live performances that bring stories to life. By fostering an environment of fun and exploration, these events help children get excited about reading this summer and help inspire an on-going passion for learning.

Here are a few events that are happening across Oklahoma:

Do you have a story about how your library has interacted with the community or just want to tell us something fun about your branch? We want to help tell your library story! Click the button below to share with us.

On May 11, 2024, authors, poets, illustrators, designers, publishers, and avid readers came together for a night to celebrate some of Oklahoma’s most talented literary standouts. Thank you to everyone for attending and supporting the Oklahoma Center for the Book and celebrating literature from all over the state.

Leanne Howe was honored with the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. Out of 28 finalists, eight winners were chosen.