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

Your ODL June Newsletter

Oklahoma Department of Libraries sent this bulletin at 06/03/2025 10:00 AM CDT

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June 3, 2025

Monthly Newsletter

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

From the Director

Get Outdoors at the Library

Resource Sharing

News & Announcements

Dear Readers,

Summer is finally here! We've been working with libraries to offer Oklahomans a season full of learning and adventure. These programs aren’t just fun—they help people of all ages combat the summer slide. Read on for outdoor activities, a Summer Reading kick-off, and much more!

As always, big things have been happening at the Oklahoma Center for the Book. On May 7, we celebrated young voices and the power of reading. During this year's My Favorite Book awards ceremony, nine finalists read aloud letters they had written to an author whose work significantly impacted them.

Made possible by the Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, this beloved program highlights what literature means to Oklahoma students.

The event can be emotional, with students sharing deeply personal experiences and books that offered comfort and understanding. My Favorite Book proves just how vital libraries—and trained professionals who connect readers with the right book—are in our state. Visit our website for more information.

Contest winners pose at the State Capitol on May 7, 2025. FOCB President Kelley Riha (right) and I present first-place winner Lakely Gomez (middle) with her award and commendation letter from her legislators.

The Oklahoma Book Awards, yet another event that gives upcoming voices a platform, took place May 16. Oklahoma legend Mike Wimmer was awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding career in illustration and portraiture. To learn more about how we honored exciting additions to the state literary scene, see News & Announcements.

I hope you will join us as we congratulate this year's winners and nominees, celebrating how learning through literature can inspire and enrich our lives.

Happy Reading,

Natalie

Natalie Currie

Director, State Librarian and Archivist

Get Outdoors at the Library

Check out more than books AND get outside for National Garden Month with help from your local library! Looking to join a gardening community? Ready to get planting? Libraries are the perfect places to begin. Set your outdoor adventure up for success with these helpful resources.


JOIN A GARDENING COMMUNITY 🪴 Libraries help their communities grow in ways you might not expect. Across Oklahoma, open spaces are turning into blooming places—Mustang Public Library partnered with ODL and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to sponsor a greenhouse, Langley Public Library built a garden for town residents, and Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library maintains popular community plots. Get connected! Use our Public Library Locator to find exciting outdoor programs close to home.		VISIT A STORY TRAIL 🌲 Step into a world of learning and outdoor fun with your family by visiting a Story Trail! Each trail displays pages from a children’s book along a scenic walking path, encouraging exercise and early literacy! With almost 40 routes maintained by libraries across the state, it's a great way to celebrate National Trails Day! This program is made possible by grants from ODL with funding from IMLS. Visit our webpage to find Story Trails near you.
		SUMMER READING BEGINS 🦋
LEARN & GROW AT THE LIBRARY 🌺 Bring your garden to life with free vegetable, herb, and wildflower seeds from the library! Visit participating locations everywhere from Claremore and Enid to Tulsa and Oklahoma City to pick up heirloom seed packets. At certain libraries, you can even learn how to garden, borrow tools, and get started planting for free— all in one place! Explore these resources and more by visiting libraries near you.		Through the Read for Adventure program, families who check out Juniper’s Butterfly Garden from a participating library will receive a complimentary admission voucher to the Oklahoma City Zoo for up to four guests—thanks to the generous support of the Zoo and OG&E. Vouchers are available while supplies last at your local library. Each location receives a limited number that will remain valid through June 30, 2026. Start your adventure today. Click to learn more!

📸 Images courtesy of Pioneer Library and Metropolitan Library Systems

Resources

Summer has arrived, and with it comes a highly anticipated library program. Statewide Summer Reading 2025, themed Color Our World, invites people of

all ages to explore the colorful world around them through books, hands-on activities, and engaging programs. Libraries are gearing up for a season of discovery—and excitement is growing!

The Statewide Summer Reading Program is sponsored by IMLS, ODL, and local libraries. This year’s program also benefits from partnerships with organizations like Hunger Free Oklahoma, which works to improve food access for families, and the Oklahoma City Zoo's Read for Adventure program. Whether through creative projects or fun reading challenges, library staff are ready to help children build strong learning habits that will carry them into the next school year and beyond.

Visit our website to learn how our Youth Services team works with the Collaborative Summer Library Program and other local partners to help libraries fight the "summer slide."

Got questions about the program? Email Trisha.Hutcherson@libraries.ok.gov.

News & Announcements

ODL is pleased to announce the winners of the 36th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards, which were revealed during a special ceremony held Friday, May

16 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma Book Awards celebrate outstanding contributions by authors, illustrators, photographers, designers, and publishers whose work is either created by Oklahomans or explores state-related themes.

Award winners (from left): Rebecca Nagle, Cullen Whisenhunt, Ginger Reno, Mike Wimmer, Ken Steele, Jeanie Gooden, Carl Brune, and Andrea L. Rogers.

The evening also honored Mike Wimmer, a celebrated illustrator and artist, with the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lasting contributions to the literary and artistic landscape

of our great state.

This year’s award recipients represent a diverse array of voices and genres, from children’s literature and poetry to fiction and lifetime achievement. Visit the ceremony webpage for a list of winning works—plus more event pictures!

Agency Stories

Oklahoma Statehood Semi-Centennial Header


	The Oklahoma Semi-Centennial in Images Oklahoma’s 50th anniversary in 1957 was a major, statewide celebration that spanned from April 22 to November 16, commemorating the starting dates of the first land run and Oklahoma statehood. Two years prior, Governor Raymond Gary formed a special commission to coordinate events across multiple regions. Counties hosted local gatherings like parades, traditional First Nations dances, and rodeos—all aimed at boosting tourism. Slogans like "Visit Oklahoma First" captured the celebration's spirit. Joel McCrea sits on horseback at the Oklahoma Semi-Centennial. Yvonne Chouteau poses in a promotional image provided by C.E. Chouteau, 1956. Festivities kicked off in April with a parade through Guthrie. 1957 also saw the debut of The Oklahoman, a film starring Joel McCrea, who not only joined the parade but also the dedication ceremony for a 200-foot tower on state fairgrounds. Another notable guest and performer was Yvonne Chouteau, one of several Indigenous prima ballerinas known internationally as the "Five Moons." Celebrities like Lucille Ball and Mickey Rooney also made appearances. Promotional items included a special Oklahoma tourism booklet and commemorative Semi-Centennial license plates. The main attraction was the Semi-Centennial Exposition in Oklahoma City, which ran continuously for nearly a month. Features included a full-scale replica of an oil-boom town, international exhibits, and science displays. State officials sealed a time capsule on July 7, 1957, containing artifacts and letters to be opened during the 2007 centennial. Children pose next to a flyer for the exposition. The commemorative tower lit up after its dedication (image courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society).

Thanks to the State Archives, a look back at this historic event is possible. With National Oklahoma Day coming up on June 7 plus, what better time could there be to celebrate our great state? And with the centennial anniversary of Route 66 in 2026 and the America250 celebration just around the corner, there's even more reason to reflect on Oklahoma's unique place in the story of our nation.

Discover more images from this exciting moment in Oklahoma history in our digital collections. You'll find a state map, the Semi-Centennial Exposition program, and snapshots of celebrity guests like Patti Page and Buster Keaton!

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. Curious about what we've featured in the past? Check out our new Agency Stories page. Click the button below to share your story so we can advocate on behalf of your organization.