By Zoe Elrod, Internal Communications Coordinator 

As the year comes to a close, many of us start thinking about what we want to learn, create or achieve in the year ahead. Whatever your age or interests, the Metropolitan Library System offers endless opportunities to keep learning and growing. 

For young writers, Edmond Library is inviting students grades 2–8 to take part in its third annual Young Storytellers Publishing Workshop, a ten-week program designed to nurture emerging authors. Participants are asked to submit a complete draft of a picture book or short story by Dec. 21, following the library’s submission guidelines. From these entries, the top ten storytellers will be selected to join the workshop, held Sunday afternoons from Jan. 4 to March 8. During the program, participants will receive mentorship to refine their stories, which will then be published through the library and added to its circulating collection. Acceptance notices will be sent the week of Dec. 29, and the workshop will conclude with a publishing ceremony Jan. 25 at Edmond Library. 

Adult writers can also continue their creative journey with the upcoming workshop “I Wrote a Novel – Now What?” on Dec. 14 at Edmond Library. This session will help participants navigate the next steps of editing and publishing after completing a manuscript. 

For adults looking to expand their education, the Metropolitan Library System now offers the Excel Adult High School Program, which allows adults age 24 and older to earn an accredited high school diploma online in as little as two years. Applicants must live in Oklahoma County and have a Metro Library card in good standing. More information is available at excelhighschool.org/library/metrolibrary. 

Students of all ages can also take advantage of HelpNow, a free online learning platform that offers live tutoring, a writing lab, practice tests and virtual study rooms. Another valuable resource, LearningExpress Library, provides study guides and practice tests for exams such as the GED, ACT, SAT, ASVAB, CDL and NCLEX-RN. It also includes career tools like resumé builders, interview guides and computer tutorials. 

For lifelong learners, the library offers a variety of eResources that allow you to explore new interests at your own pace. LinkedIn Learning provides more than 16,000 self-paced courses covering topics such as business, technology, design and education. If you are feeling creative, check out Creativebug, available through Hoopla’s BingePass, which features over 1,000 instructional videos on arts and crafts such as painting, sewing, knitting and baking. 

Whether you are learning a new craft, earning your diploma or publishing your first story, the library has the tools to help you reach your goals. This season, and throughout the year, make the library your go-to place to learn something new.