Everybody's an artist.

But it's inevitable that some are more artistic than others, and Molly O'Connor will help area teens find their inner artists in a series of programs that present ways to change everyday objects into creature masks this summer at several Metropolitan Library System locations.

"When I was younger," said Kim Edwards, RJN Downtown Library librarian, "I considered myself an artist--of course I was a lazy artist, but still an artist, so I'm constantly amazed at what true artists can do with the simplest of items. They can turn a candy wrapper into high art.now that's talent!"

Kim invites all teens with an artistic bent to visit any of the libraries at which O'Connor will conduct her Creature Mask Making program, which continues through July 27. Sites for the program are the Southern Oaks Library, 6900 S. Walker, on July 1 from 2:00 to 3:00; the RJN Downtown Library, at 300 Park Ave in downtown Oklahoma City, on Sunday, July 2 from 2:00 to 3:00; the Warr Acres Library, 5901NW 63 rd , on Thursday, July 13, from 7:00 to 8:00, and the Village Library on Thursday, July 27 from 6:30 to 7:30.

O'Connor's program, which is a Summer at the Library event and has been popular with teens at several library locations around the metro area since it began earlier this month, provides a fascinating look at the history as well as the art of mask making.

"Throughout history," Edwards observed, "masks have been used for both ceremonial and practical purposes.but here at the library, we decided to ignore all that stuff and go the 'fun' route in mask making.

"As part of the Creature Feature Summer at the Library program, the Metropolitan Library System is offering teens the opportunity join local Oklahoma City artist Molly O'Connor for an ultra cool lesson in mask making."

"Creature Feature" is the theme of the library system's series of summer events for teens. Summer at the Library "Creature Feature" continues at all MLS libraries through the end of July. There's still plenty of time to enroll in the program and teens who do will receive gifts and can become eligible for prizes.

For more information about Summer at the Library or Molly O'Connor's Mask Making event, call your neighborhood library or check the MLS webpage, www.metrolibrary.org.

The Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County includes 12 libraries and five extension libraries. Libraries include Belle Isle, Capitol Hill, Ralph Ellison, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library and Southern Oaks in Oklahoma City, as well as Bethany, Choctaw, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Village and Warr Acres. Extensions are located in the communities of Harrah, Jones, Luther and Nicoma Park and include Wright Library in Oklahoma City . You can also reach us at www.metrolibrary.org.