Graduation season marks the start of a new journey—whether you’re entering the job market, continuing your education, or exploring new interests. Thanks to ODL, your local library provides access to helpful online resources for Oklahomans exploring their next steps. From career training and resume help to homework support and research tools, these services are available to all residents at no cost. Most can be accessed from home or your local public library, where staff can help you make the most of them. These statewide resources are made possible thanks to funding from IMLS and support from ODL.

 

Grow with Google offers flexible, self-paced training and professional development tools to help you grow your skills, launch a career, or build a business. Explore Google Career Essentials for short, foundational courses to improve your digital and workplace skills. For a deeper dive, check out Google Career Certificates—comprehensive training in high-demand fields like IT, data analytics, and UX design. These credentials can boost your resume and LinkedIn profile, helping you stand out in today’s job market.

 

 

Brainfuse connects you to expert assistance when you need it most—whether you're a student, jobseeker, or veteran. Get started by exploring these three tailored platforms. 

• HelpNow: Live tutoring from 1–11 PM, plus 24/7 tools for homework help, test prep, and writing feedback.

• JobNow: One-on-one coaching to improve resumes, prep for interviews, and access job search tools.

• VetNow: Personalized help for veterans and their families navigating benefits, careers, and academic support.

 

EBSCO gives you access to thousands of scholarly articles, magazines, e-books, and how-to guides through platforms like Explora and EBSCOhost. Looking for career direction? BlueCareer helps you explore more than 100 skilled trades and connect with employers. It offers career assessments, training tools, and job listings in one convenient hub. It’s ideal for recent grads interested in the skilled trades or exploring practical career options.

 

 

Attend Oklahoma Book Awards

Step into the state's glittering literary scene and join us for our 36th annual Book Awards ceremony! On Friday, May 16, enjoy an evening of celebration with book signings, dinner, and much more at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

 

Hear from this year's winners. Meet local publishers. Mingle with notable authors. This will be a night to remember, so reserve your seats right away! Email info@libraries.ok.gov or call (405) 522-3562 to learn more.

 

 

Honoring Libraries at My Favorite Book 2025

This annual writing contest gives students a unique opportunity to share how their favorite books have inspired them. Through letters to the authors, contestants explore the personal impact of stories they love. The winners will be recognized at a special ceremony at the State Capitol on May 7!

 

The celebration doesn't end there! Each first-place winner also gets a chance to thank a library for supporting them. The school or public library they choose receives a $1,000 cash prize! It’s a meaningful way to honor local libraries for fostering early literacy and a lifelong love of learning.

 

 

 

One Tulsa veteran and regular library customer found a lifeline at Hardesty Regional Library when circumstances left him unhoused at 51 years old. During the time spent living in his car, access to essentials like phone service, food, and hygiene supplies often depended on whether he could afford gas. At one point, his car died in the library parking lot, pulling him into such a dark place that he was thinking of harming himself. Library staff stayed with him through the moment of crisis; they helped jump his car and connected him with support through the Tulsa City-County Library System (TCCL).

 

With funding generously provided by the Anne & Henry Zarrow Family Foundation, TCCL has partnered with Family & Children’s Services since 2021—helping library customers obtain safe housing and advocate for themselves. TCCL Case Manager, Karen Knapp, met with this 51-year-old veteran and helped him secure basic needs as well as a consultation with a nurse. Karen also connected him with veteran support organizations that provided food, phone service, and car repairs. When asked about the experience, he said:

 

"Karen's assistance through the library system was genuinely a life-saving moment that I'm deeply grateful for. She and the library staff had a lot to do with my mental well-being these past six months... living in my car with no safe place to go.”

 

He has since moved into an apartment, enrolled in an online Bachelor’s degree program, and scheduled several job interviews.

This moving story reveals how a local library is a hub in the broader mental health network.

 

Libraries like Hardesty Regional serve as anchors for those navigating difficult life chapters, offering not only practical help but also a personal connection. It is a powerful reminder that libraries play a vital role in promoting mental well-being and helping each customer build their best future.