Your ODL June Newsletter

Oklahoma Department of Libraries sent this bulletin at 06/01/2026 09:00 AM CDT

 

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June 1, 2026

 

Monthly Newsletter

 

I N   T H I S   B U L L E T I N

 

From the Director

Oklahoma Center for the Book

Resources

 

Director's Letter, June 2026
 

 

Dear Readers,

 

Welcome to this month's newsletter! Whether it's the Summer Reading kick-off or perfect Story Trail weather, summertime means library time. June's story explores how libraries take learning outdoors and into the garden.

 

"Unearth a Story" with Summer Reading 2026! This bedrock program combats the 'summer slide,' fills the season with fun, and ensures learning continues all year round. Collaborative Summer Library Program materials are available through LSTA funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Library staff will find additional resources in this newsletter. 

 

Taking the adventure indoors, our special section features everything from standing ovations to the faces of Oklahoma's literary future. We're thrilled to share highlights from My Favorite Book and the Oklahoma Book Awards.

 

Congratulations to the winners and nominees who make this state's creative landscape so rich—and thank you all for continuing to support ODL and open doors to learning across Oklahoma.

 

Happy Learning,

 

  
 

  Natalie

Natalie Currie 

Executive Director, State Librarian and Archivist 

OklahomaCenterfortheBook 
 

The Oklahoma Center for the Book marked a significant milestone this year: 40 years of fostering a love of reading and connecting Oklahomans with books and authors. In May, two beloved annual events, My Favorite Book and the Oklahoma Book Awards, continued that tradition with support from the Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

 

Visit the Oklahoma Center for the Book webpage to learn more about these special programs, 2026 award winners, and upcoming events!

 

My Favorite Book Contest

My Favorite Book highlights the meaningful connections students make through reading. According to Center Director Michelle Hall, the contest has engaged more than 3,000 participants since it began five years ago. Congrats to the nine winners who read their letters at the State Capitol, sharing their heart and creativity with legislators, librarians, family, and other attendees.

 

“This program is about recognizing how reading shapes who we are, expands our thinking, and connects us to new ideas and perspectives.”

— Natalie Currie, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries

 

 

Contest winners showcase their citations from Oklahoma legislators. State Senator Carri Hicks poses with Division III first-place winner, Georgena Weaver.

 

Celebrating Oklahoma's Literary Landscape

On May 16, the Center welcomed publishers, finalists, longstanding supporters, and leaders from Oklahoma's thriving literary community to the 37th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards. Held at the Oklahoma History Center in view of the capitol, guests applauded contributions to the state's creative legacy.

 

This elegant evening featured opportunities to mingle with award-winning authors and notable Oklahomans. From autographs by an OSU president emeritus to film producer Shannon McIntosh presenting her mother's award, legacies old and new were well-represented.

 

New York Times bestselling author, Carolyn Brown, received the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for a record-breaking career. The night also saw multiple standing ovations—one for the My Favorite Book winner who presented on the novel Whalefall's unexpected but vital role in a time of grief and loss.

 

  

Carolyn Brown receives the Arrell Gibson Award from famed historian
Bob Burke. Award winners smile together for the camera.

  

 

 
Agency Stories - June 2026

 


Libraries Take Learning Outdoors with Community Gardens

From Mustang's IMLS-sponsored greenhouse to the Checotah Library plots, libraries take learning outdoors! They help communities grow in unexpected ways—turning, for example, vacant spaces into gardens where customers can learn to grow their own food.

 

It's never been easier to try something new. Libraries are helping health literacy take root across Oklahoma. At Metro Library System branches, tools are available for checkout just like books. In Eufala and Hulbert, gardening clubs kick off soon... and in Piedmont, the public library is ready for another summer of promoting life skills and connection at the community garden.

 

 

At first, this vibrant garden was just an idea. Business owner, Thania Mayfield, imagined a space where neighbors could grow fresh vegetables. Piedmont Library brought that vision to life when librarian Olivia Blackketter secured IMLS funding administered through ODL's Health Literacy grant program. With that support, the project became a reality.

 

Joyce Leach provided a central location next to her antique store, and Piedmont's garden project took off. Volunteers of

all ages showed up to help prepare the soil and plant. Despite the support and hope, that first season yielded just four okras.

 

Two years later, the garden tells a different story. Produce and herbs grow alongside native flowers, giving back to pollinators as well as the community. Starting with four okras, the Piedmont Community Garden has become a hands-on story of resilience and collaboration.

 

Share Your Story with ODL

Sharing ODL customer stories highlights the tangible impact archives and libraries have on communities, showcasing how they foster literacy, provide access to information, and support lifelong learning. By sharing real-world examples next to data and statistics, these highlights tell the larger story of how individuals and their communities thrive when connected with library or research services. Curious about what we've featured in the past? Check out our new Agency Stories page. Click the button below to share your story!

 

  

Resources

 

Resource Sharing Header

  
Annual. Report Trainings header - June 26
 

Calling library staff—Annual Report season is almost here! The data you collect and share annually is vital to the ongoing story of library services, informing advocacy and State Aid eligibility.

 

Create a smooth, low-stress process by registering for these helpful trainings. Recordings will also be available on Niche afterwards.

 

Annual Report Training 2026

Wednesday, July 1 | 2-3 p.m.

Join ODL Library Development staff for a webinar sharing clarification on sections of this year's annual report.

 

  

Annual Report Software Training

Tuesday, July 7 | 10-11 a.m.

Learn how to use the annual report software in this training presented by Ryan Patrick from Counting Opinions.

 

 

  
 

 

  

 

 

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