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Eighth Annual Paranormal Fest: "Waning Moon" on Oct. 18

The Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library is set to host its eighth annual Paranormal Fest on Saturday, October 18, transforming the building into a hub of supernatural exploration and eerie fun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This year’s event, themed “Waning Moon,” promises a full day of activities for all ages, including panels, hands-on crafts, a spooky escape room and a family-friendly film marathon. 

“It’s a full day of spine-tingling fun for all ages,” said Kim Ventrella...

Literary Voices® and the impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Proceeds from the Literary Voices® series benefit the Library Endowment Trust and the Friends of the Library's initiative to establish funds for the expansion and sustainability of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (DPIL) in Oklahoma County. This transformative program offers free monthly books to children aged 0-5, promoting diversity, nurturing self-esteem, and igniting a lifelong passion for reading. Your contribution will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of young readers in our community. 

From Punk to Preservation: The Oklahoma Underground Music Archive

From Punk to Preservation: The Oklahoma Underground Music Archive 

By Meg Nance Coker, Special Collections Librarian 

It’s likely that the images that pop into your mind when you think of the words “punk” and “archive” don’t exactly mesh well together. But even raucous concepts like punk, metal, goth, experimental, indie, hip hop, or various other flavors of alternative music belong in a library and archive as part of our local history and culture. Everyone’s sto...

Hispanic/LatinX Heritages Month

 

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with Special Collections & Research! From September 15th to October 15th, we are spotlighting the rich history and contribution of Hispanic and Latino Americans with a new mini exhibit showcased in the Oklahoma Room. 

The mini exhibit highlights notable Oklahomans such as Manuel Perez Jr., Rufino Rodrigues, Tony Casillas, Shannon Calderon Primeau, Cecil Gomez, Anita Martinez, Rosa Quiroga King, and Juanita Zamora, among others. On display are a variety of materials such as photographs and booklets documenting the ongoing history ...

Info Magazine - October 2025

Inside the October issue of Info Magazine, you'll find:
• Eighth Annual Paranormal Fest: Waning Moon
• Geneaolgy
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Archives Month
• Banned Books & "The Outsiders"
• OKC Philharmonic
• Featured Reviews
• October Events

...

Dolly Delivers Magic: One Book at a Time

By Zoe Elrod, Internal Communications Coordinator 

In Oklahoma County, more than 18,000 children receive free books each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library thanks to The Friends of the Library, the Library Endowment Trust, and the support of our community. This beloved program sends high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, helping build early literacy skills, nurture self-esteem and ignite a lifelong love of reading. 

Info Magazine - September 2025

Inside the September issue of Info Magazine, you'll find:
• Wright Library Celebrates a Century of Stories
• Library Card Sign Up Month
• AltFest
• State Fair
• Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month
• Be a Part of History
• Featured Reviews
• September Events

...

What does it mean to GO BACK to the State Fair?

By Judie Matthews, Special Collections Librarian

"Let’s Go Again!" We’ve been called to return to the lights, food, rides, and shows. The Fair feels like a homecoming—a chance for us to celebrate who we are as Oklahomans while the harvest comes in and the days are still long. 

This sense of nostalgia also touched Oklahomans a century ago. In 1923, the State Fair faced significant challenges during a time of political turmoil. Gov. Jack Walton and the Ku Klux Klan were locked in a power struggle...

Marvelous, monumental, memorable: The Myriad Convention Center

The Myriad Convention Center opened its doors on November 5, 1972, in the booming City of Tomorrow. The newest mini exhibit, centered around the history of the Myriad, is now on display in the Oklahoma Room on the second floor of the Downtown Library.

Hosted by Special Collections & Research, the display showcases photographs, pamphlets, building layouts, and original ticket stubs from the over five decades that the Myriad hosted countless events in the heart of the city. 

 

 

From holding major shows for superstars like Elvis and Cher to serving as a tem...

Info Magazine - August 2025

Inside the August issue of Info Magazine, you'll find:
• Back to School Success with the Library
• Dolly Delivers Magic
• The Myriad Convention Center
• Featured Book Reviews
• Tiny Dancers, Art and the State Fair Programs
• LitFest at the Downtown OKC Library
• August Events

...

Oklahoma City history told through Everyday Things

Special Collections and Research is excited to release the first inventory of materials in the John Dunning III Collection that are ready for public use. John Dunning is a longtime Oklahoma City resident and proprietor of the local record store and music venue, Trolley Stop Records. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma City County Historical Society and is a local expert on historical memorabilia. The Dunning Collection at the library includes items from everyday life that tell the history of regular working people in Ok...

Info Magazine - June and July 2025

Inside the special June and July double issue of Info Magazine, you'll find:
• Summer Reading
• Summer Fun at the Library
• Color Our World
• Southern Oaks 50th Anniversary
• The Roots of Real History
• Featured Book Reviews
• June and July Events

...

Stop and Smell the Roses: The Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. Collection

April showers bring May flowers! Stop by Special Collections and Research's Oklahoma Room on the 2nd floor of the Downtown Library to view our monthly exhibit on one of the newest collections at the archive, The Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. 

The exhibit spotlights the oldest garden club formed in the state of Oklahoma (oklahomagardenclub.com). Since its official founding in 1921, the Oklahoma City Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. remains active in the Oklahoma City area today, promoting environmental stewardship, conserving natural resources, educating the public abou...

Info Magazine - May 2025

Inside the May edition of Info Magazine, you'll find:
• GeekCon '25: Celebrate All Things Geek
• Oklahoma City Council Garden Clubs
• Featured Book Reviews
• Summer Reading
• Library Resources
• May Events

...

Temporary Closure of Downtown Library for Pest Treatment

Dear Library Guests,

Today, the Downtown Library closed at 11:30 a.m. after body lice were discovered in a staff area of the building. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately initiated professional pest control treatment of the entire facility.

The health and safety of our guests and staff is our top priority. All areas of the building are being thoroughly treated, and we expect to reopen tomorrow as scheduled.

While the risk to the public is extremely low, we want to be transparent and share this information as part of our commitment to guest safety. If you visited...