ODL January Newsletter

Oklahoma Department of Libraries sent this bulletin at 01/06/2025 10:00 AM CST

 

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Monthly Newsletter Header

January 6, 2025

 

Monthly Newsletter

 

I N   T H I S   B U L L E T I N

 

From the Director

Get Fit At the Library

Resource Sharing

News & Announcements

 

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Dear Readers,

 

Happy New Year! As we welcome this new year, let’s reflect on the highlights

of 2024 and embrace the opportunity for fresh beginnings. January marks a chance to start anew—whether it’s focusing on health, getting organized, or strengthening connections. Let’s set the tone for a year full of progress and possibilities.

 

Have you made a New Year's resolution to move more this year? No need to sign up for a monthly gym membership when you can just go to your local library! Through a wide variety of programs, libraries continue to provide customers of all ages with opportunities to meet their fitness goals as a community. Check out our list of exciting options across the state and make exercising fun this year. January is Get Organized Month, also known as GO Month. Keep reading to learn more about how to get your records in order for the new year. 

 

Whether it's research tools or a Zumba class, there are so many ways to get moving this year! ODL, and your local library, is here to support you every step of the way. 

 

Happy learning,

 

  
 

  Natalie

Natalie Currie 

Director, State Librarian and Archivist 

The Gift of Reading and Learning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make Fitness Fun at the Library

  

It may be time for New Year's resolutions, but there are so many different ways to prioritize physical and mental health in 2025. Libraries across the state offer exercise programs free of charge! Find the right fit for you: making new friends in a Zumba class, building strength in the SAIL program, or letting your mind stretch a bit with some journaling. Oklahomans of all ages are welcome!

 

 

 

Chair Yoga and Zumba Gold

Altus Public Library

 

Looking for low-impact exercise options? Altus Public Library hosts both Chair Yoga from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Zumba Gold from 4 to 5 p.m. every Thursday. Sign up here.

 

Move and Mingle Meet-Up

Idabel Public Library

 

Visit Idabel Public Library for an

hour of moving and grooving at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays!

All ages are welcome. Check out

the library's events calendar for more information.

 

January Mindfulness Journal

Nicoma Park Library

 

This online and curbside event is a chance to pause and reflect with guided prompts from Nicoma Park Library's monthly journal. Visit the events calendar to learn more.

 

SAIL (Staying Active and Independent For Life)

Eufaula Memorial Library

 

SAIL is a fitness program for older adults which can be done sitting

or standing. The program runs from

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. Search for a SAIL program at your nearest library or learn more by visiting the calendar!

 

Tai Chi Class

Davis Public Library

 

Classes are offered every week from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tai Chi has many health and fitness benefits including stress relief and increased balance. Interested? Sign up here.

 

Looking for More Options?

 

Many public libraries offer programs like these! For additional exciting health and fitness opportunities, check out your local library's events calendar. To find the closest library, try ODL's public library locator!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

 

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ODL January is Get Organized Month Header
 

 

Start the year off right by getting your records in order! January is the perfect time to review retention schedules, organize digital and paper files, and ensure your records management practices are on track. Proper records management helps you stay compliant and improves efficiency in your day-to-day work.

 

Here are a few action items to help you get started:

  • Review your retention schedule: Make sure you’re familiar with how long records need to be kept and what can be discarded.

  • Declutter digital files: Organize your shared drives and email folders, archiving or deleting items according to your retention schedule.

  • Tidy up paper records: File, label, or securely shred documents as needed.

  • Create a system: Set up consistent practices for maintaining and organizing files moving forward.

Need guidance on state government documents? Archives and Records Management is here to help! Contact the team at records@libraries.ok.gov.

  

News & Announcements

 

 

Agency Stories

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It isn't too late to apply for Read Across Oklahoma 2025! Sign up before January 17 for a chance to join this year's "Reading Safari" at the Oklahoma City Zoo. A limited number of Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes will receive paid admission to the zoo where students will read Caring For Your Lion with author Tammi Sauer and visit the animal exhibits. Each classroom's students will be given a free copy of Caring For Your Lion prior to the event so they are familiar with the story. Learn more about the event by visiting ODL's Read Across Oklahoma webpage. Want to send a class to the zoo? Fill out the application form below.

 

  
 
                            
 
 

 

This is all made possible by the generosity of many private and public sponsors including Tinker Federal Credit Union, Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Interested in donating or volunteering to support the event? Contact Connie Armstrong with the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

 

 

  
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The Oklahoma State Library Supports

National Policy-making

A staff member with Senator Lankford’s office reached out in 2023, seeking records from the early 1990s about housing in Guymon, OK. Despite the complexity of the request, the State Library team diligently researched and identified a 2013 Oklahoma House of Representatives interim study on rural housing and low-income tax credits.

 

While written records were limited, our team provided audio files from the study, an article referencing its findings, and a market study for Guymon commissioned during that time. This request exemplified the collection’s broad impact, showcasing its specialized resources, expert guidance, and national relevance. It underscores how ODL supports informed decision-making at all levels, ensuring Oklahoma’s historical records and expertise remain vital tools for addressing today’s challenges.

 

 

  

Share Your Story with ODL

 

Sharing ODL customer stories is a powerful advocacy tool for securing support from state and federal government. These narratives highlight the tangible impact archives and libraries have on communities, showcasing how they foster literacy, provide access to information, and support lifelong learning. By humanizing the data and statistics with real-world examples, these stories can effectively convey the value of library services and archives and records management, inspiring lawmakers to allocate funding and create policies that support and enhance these programs. Click the button below to share your story so we can advocate on behalf of your organization. 

 

   

 

  
 

 

  

 

 

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Questions? Email info@libraries.ok.gov.