Lego Builders
Sparking Creativity Brick by BrickDid you know that kids who play regularly with blocks, like LEGOS, score higher on standardized tests and perform better in math? To celebrate National Architecture April 21 – 27, we want to share with you the benefits of attending LEGO programs at the library.
Library LEGO programs are a great way to get children solving problems, learning new concepts in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) and building key leadership skills.
In a study of 62 students between the ages of 8 and 14 using LEGO Mindstorms construction...
So You've Been Asked to Read a Book to Children...
Have you ever been asked to read a book out loud to a group of children? This can be intimidating for community leaders who don’t have the professional training and experience of a children’s librarian!
Here are some tips to help:
Read the book first. Practice! Hold the book so children can see the pictures. Point out interesting things on the page. Add your own sound effects, silly voices, and ask questions of your audience as you feel comfortable. The best storytimes are engaging and interactive. Pick a book that’s not too long, is paced well, and doesn’t have to...
Bestselling Author of Boom Town to Visit OKC Library
BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BOOM TOWN TO VISIT OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sam Anderson, bestselling author of Boom Town, an urban history of Oklahoma City, will visit the Metropolitan Library System this spring.
The event will be held April 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Metropolitan Library System’s Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library. The event will include an author talk followed by time for open questions. Anderson will be joined by Ponca City native Brian Phillips, author of the recently published book of essays, Impossible Owls.
Local bookseller “Commonplace Books” ...
Belle Isle Butterflies
The Belle Isle Library recently welcomed some very special new members to its property: beautiful monarch butterflies! The annual migration of North America’s monarch butterfly is an incredible phenomenon. The monarch is the only butterfly to migrate two ways, as birds do. Unlike other butterflies that can sleep through winter as larvae, pupae, or even as adults in some species, monarchs cannot survive the cold. Using environmental cues, the monarchs know when to travel south for the winter.
In 2017, the library partnered with the Oklahoma Master Gardeners to plant a but...
Metro Library Reaches Record Numbers in Summer Reading Program
The Metropolitan Library System reached record-breaking numbers for Summer Reading– reaching their goal weeks before the conclusion of the program.
Almost 26,000 readers participated in the annual Summer Reading program, a 12 percent increase over last year’s summer reading program -and there is still two weeks left to participate. Adult participation is 65 percent higher. The children’s program has had a 63 percent bump in 10-hour goal completions and a 148 percent bump in 20-hour goal completions. Each goal is to read 10 hours, which is the equivalent of reading 20 minutes per d...
LIBRARY SENSORY PROGRAM DEVELOPS COGNITIVE SKILLS IN CHILDREN
Pops, shakes and splashing sounds fill the room, but the most prominent sound from sensory playtime are the sounds of giggles and parents talking with their little ones as they learn. The Metropolitan Library System’s sensory playtime programs stimulate children’s senses to help them develop key cognitive skills.
The Metro Library offers sensory play programs at libraries across the county. Sensory programs include a variety of activities that stimulate the senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. At one station a child may be playing with blobs of shavin...
METRO LIBRARY GIVES THOUSANDS OF NEW BOOKS TO LOCAL NONPROFITS
The Metropolitan Library System donated over four thousand new books to local nonprofit organizations following the completion of the library’s annual Summer Reading program in August.
The Read It Forward program gives Summer Reading participants the opportunity to donate their prize - a free book - to someone else or "Read it Forward" rather than claim it. The library system also donates a book on behalf of Summer Reading participants who complete 30 hours or more in the program. These books are then distributed to local nonprofits serving families and youth.
After a re...
METROPOLITAN LIBRARY SYSTEM RELEASES 2018 NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS SCHEDULE
The Metropolitan Library System announced the schedule for the 2018 Neighborhood Arts programs, a series of energetic performances throughout the summer for all ages to enjoy.
Programs will take place at each Metro Library branch from June 4 - July 28, 2018. Performers go on tour for two weeks at a time making stops at neighborhood libraries along the way. Neighborhood Arts showcases local talent including Lucas Ross, Sugar Free Allstars, Rhythmically Speaking, OKC Improv, Adam and Kizzie and others.
“The Neighborhood Arts programs give ...
METROPOLITAN LIBRARY SYSTEM HOSTS GEEK CON
The Metropolitan Library System will host Geek Con – a celebration of pop-culture fandom for children and adults.
Geek Con will take place at the Downtown Library May 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. library customers can register for individual activities at metrolibrary.org to reserve a spot. Activities will include a cosplay contest, escape room, crafts, mini-panels, guest appearances and a superhero storytime.
“We are thrilled to give both adults and children the opportunity to show their inner superhero,” Downtown Librarian Kimberly ...
LIBRARY ANNOUNCES BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
OKLAHOMA CITY– The Metropolitan Library System will celebrate Black History Month with diverse library programs throughout Oklahoma County in the month of February.
Black History Month programs will include performances from Rhythmically Speaking and Adam and Kizzie, Freedmen genealogy presentations, a film series presented at Ralph Ellison Library and others.
To kick off Black History Month at the library, Adam and Kizzie will perform Roots of African American Music. The performance will take the audience on an informative musical journ...
DONATION MADE FOR ADDITIONAL RENOVATIONS TO THE VILLAGE LIBRARY
OKLAHOMA CITY– The Special Friends of The Village Library have donated $60,000 to help fund renovations to The Village Library teen and adult reading areas.
The Metropolitan Library System budgeted more than $250,000 for renovations to The Village Library to take place in mid-January. The additional funds from the Special Friends of The Village Library, a 501c3 organization that’s mission is to support The Village Library, will allow the library to replace shelving in the teen area and add new lounge seating in both the teen and adult areas, as well as add new dis...
TEEN READ WEEK ENCOURAGES TEENS TO VISIT THE LIBRARY
OKLAHOMA CITY– Strong reading skills translate into better performance at school and better preparedness for careers – during Teen Read Week the library highlights the importance of making time for reading.
Teen Read Week is Oct. 7-13, 2018 and the Metropolitan Library System invites teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms – books, magazines, eBooks, audiobooks and more. To encourage teens to read and visit the library, Metro Libraries are offering programs to make crafts and DIY, watch movies with friends, join a book club, play games and trivia, expl...
STEAM PROGRAMING AT THE LIBRARY OFFERS MORE THAN READING SKILLS
OKLAHOMA CITY– The Metropolitan Library System has developed a variety of summer STEAM programs for all ages including some programs hosted by the Science Museum of Oklahoma.
The programs showcase technology-based learning to help equip children and teens with the knowledge they need to be skilled and ethical technology users as well as cultivate key problem-solving skills. STEAM programs focus on areas including science, technology, engineering, art and math.
“We have some unique new STEAM programs this summer to get the whole family di...
LIBRARY PROGRAM ENGAGES KIDS IN SCIENCE PROBLEM-SOLVING
OKLAHOMA CITY– The Metropolitan Library System’s “Sensational Science Camp” engages gradeschoolers and preschoolers in hand-on activities to teach science concepts and problem-solving skills.
Ruff Ruffman’s Sensational Science Camp, funded in part by OETA Ready to Learn, encourages children ages 4 to 8 to explore core science concepts by modeling science skills to learn the value of failure and exploration and help children learn to tackle challenges. The program introduces the topic using OETA’s Ruff Ruffman science show. A trained librarian then helps children e...
LIBRARY OFFERS ROBOTICS PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS
OKLAHOMA CITY– Robotics programs at the Del City Library give teens and gradeschoolers the opportunity to engineer and program robots to do just about anything.
Del City Library will offer a Robotics Boot Camp Monday, Nov. 5. The program uses Dash and Dot robots and LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots to teach basic robotics concepts. Dash and Dot robots are spherical programmable robots geared toward beginners and LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots are buildable brick robots with programmable motors and sensors for more advanced robot creations.
Each ro...