Read Across Oklahoma

This celebration of reading and early literacy will take place at the Oklahoma City Zoo on March 26. This year's theme is America250: Telling America’s Stories, celebrating our nation’s history and the stories that shaped it. Will Rogers and His Great Presidential Pals by Bart Taylor offers a fun introduction to American leaders through the wit and wisdom of Oklahoma’s own Will Rogers.

 

A limited number of kindergarten classes will be selected to attend the event. As special guests, these classes will receive paid admission to the Zoo, and students will receive a copy of this year’s book selection prior to the event. Zoo admission and books are made possible by the generosity of public and private sponsors.

 

Oklahoma schools are invited to apply by January 16, 2026!

 

 

Help Us Celebrate Young Writers

Do you know a student who might want a chance to showcase their writing skills and share books that touched their lives? Please share the My Favorite Book contest with them so they don’t miss this opportunity!

 

The contest invites kids from grades 4-12 to write a personal letter to an author for a chance to receive a cash prize and present their letter at the State Capitol. First-place winners will also be able to donate a $1,000 prize to the public or school library of their choice.

 

Submissions are due by December 12.

 

 

 

Have you submitted your work for the OK Book Awards?

Authors, poets, illustrators, photographers, and book designers with Oklahoma connections are invited to enter the 37th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards. Eligible titles must be published in 2025 and either feature Oklahoma-related themes or be created by someone who lives—or has lived—in the state.

 

Entries close January 7, 2026, and require an entry form, six copies of the book, and a $25 fee per category. To learn how to apply, visit our website.

 

 

We're open for business at the Will Rogers Building! While Allen Wright Memorial Library undergoes renovations, the ODL has temporarily relocated to Room C12 of the Will Rogers Building in the Capitol Complex.

 

Our offerings include curated collections with a focus on law, legislation,

state and federal documents, and Oklahoma’s rich literary history, as well

as personalized records management aid for state agencies.

 

Explore these unique resources at 2401 N. Lincoln Blvd. See the flyer for hours of operation and contact details. We're here to answer your research

and records management questions!

Open the door to new learning opportunities with this LSTA grant to attend the 2026 Oklahoma Library Association Conference. This year's event will take place in Tulsa, March 11-13. Visit the conference webpage for more details. 

 

Public and tribal library staff are invited to apply before January 12. Grant recipients will pay up front and then be reimbursed for registration, travel, lodging, and per diem. 

 

Read the terms and conditions to confirm your eligibility before applying through Foundant. For those unfamiliar with our grant management platform, check out Foundant tutorials under the "Resources" tab.

 

 

This LSTA Grant, offered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, is for the purpose of educating library professionals

and improving library service in the state.

 

 

Calling all Friends chapters! Help promote early literacy with this special grant from the Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO). Seeds for Success grant applicants can request $500 for kids' reading material as well as 50-100 picture books to share at libraries and other community hubs.

 

Don't miss out on giving this life-changing gift to preschoolers, especially those in underserved areas. Apply with this link by December 31!

 

Sixteen years of memories later, a Norman mother is sharing how the library became a second home when she and her daughter needed it most. Michelle Allen—a single parent at the time—rarely had money left over for books and toys after bills were paid, but she lived just a few blocks from the nearest library.

 

Pioneer staff welcomed them both into a space full of games, books, and friendly faces. "From the age of nine months," she says, "my daughter learned, played, and basically grew up there. She not only looked up to the librarians and made new friends but also developed a passion for reading and writing." 

 

The now sixteen-year-old still loves her library, especially when she gets to read books to younger kids. With a library serving every county, families of all incomes may find that learning and connection is just around the corner. Find the nearest library here or join your local Friends (FOLIO) group to fundraise for these life-changing services.