Cultural Enrichment

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Expand Your Horizons

Learn a new language with online Mango, read about the perfect local restaurant with our travel guides, or attend a performance from artists representing different cultures and forms.  Your Library is your key to exploring the world whether you are traveling there or enjoying it here.

Blogs

Keeping Family History Alive

This month as you gather with friends and family (genetic, adopted, and/or chosen) you may swap old stories, look at photos, and remember some of your shared history. While you’re at it, why not take a moment to think about preserving some of that history? ...

Cooking Up Some History

As we begin to gear up for holiday dinners and do our best to make sure our neighbors have food to eat, it's easy enough to get caught up in the here-and-now demands and anxieties. 

(Related content: "Ditch the Potluck Stress" from the November 2025 issue of UMAmi)

But in all of ...

Events

This event is in the "Teens" group

HBCU: History & Excellence Passive Program and Display

All Day 2/1–2/28
Teens
Del City Library
Library Branch: Del City Library
Room: Onsite (Del City)
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Community & Civics, Continuing Education, Displays & Exhibits
Event Description:

Explore this passive program and display in our teen section to learn a little about the history of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and about how they have built generations of leaders.

This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

The New York Times 1619 Project Magazine Giveaway

All Day 2/1–2/16
Teens, Adults
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Onsite (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: Teens, Adults
Program Type: Books & Reading, Community & Civics, Cultural Experiences, Displays & Exhibits, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

From the archives - Developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, writers from The New York Times, and The New York Times Magazine in August 2019, this magazine focused on subjects of slavery and the founding of the United States.

This event is in the "All Ages" group
This event is in the "Birth-PreK" group
This event is in the "Kids" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

Secret Underground Railroad Quilt Patterns Passive Program and Display

All Day 2/1–2/28
All Ages, Birth-PreK, Kids, Teens, Adults
Del City Library
Library Branch: Del City Library
Room: Onsite (Del City)
Age Group: All Ages, Birth-PreK, Kids, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Community & Civics, Displays & Exhibits
Event Description:

Check out our Underground Railroad Quilts passive program and display to learn about the secret quilt codes that guided freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. Then, color your own quilt block and add it to our community quilt.

This event is in the "Kids" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

Take Home Kit: Black History Month Knowledge Quizzes

All Day 2/1–2/28
Kids, Teens, Adults
Ralph Ellison Library
Library Branch: Ralph Ellison Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Ralph Ellison)
Age Group: Kids, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Community & Civics, Continuing Education, Take-Home Kit
Event Description:

Go on a quest for knowledge with Ralph Ellison's annual trivia quiz! The quizzes are take-home kits, so there's plenty of time to test your knowledge. You will get the questions and the answers along with a prize.

This event is in the "Birth-PreK" group

Oklahoma Children's Theatre for the Very Young: Wake Up, Brother Bear

10:00am–10:30am
Birth-PreK
Midwest City Library
Library Branch: Midwest City Library
Room: Family Place (Midwest City)
Age Group: Birth-PreK
Program Type: Books & Reading, Cultural Experiences, Family Programs
Event Description:
Wake Up, Brother Bear
By Janet Stanford and Kathryn Chase Bryer
Music by Katie Chambers
 
A Theatre for the Very Young Production most enjoyed by ages 0-5 and their families

Disclaimer(s)

This program is designed for children and accompanying adults. Please plan to be in attendance and be engaged with your child for this program. 

This event is in the "All Ages" group
This event is in the "Kids" group
This event is in the "Teens" group
This event is in the "Adults" group

Celebrating Black History Take Home Kit

9:00am–4:30pm
All Ages, Kids, Teens, Adults
Downtown Library
Registration Required
Registration is no longer available for this event.
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Online + Curbside (Downtown)
Age Group: All Ages, Kids, Teens, Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Community & Civics, Cultural Experiences, Family Programs, Science & STEAM, Take-Home Kit
Registration Required
Event Description:

Black History is American History and it's time to celebrate it! Kits will include a fun activity and information about Black History Month.

Disclaimer(s)

Warning: Kit contains small parts that could represent a choking hazard. It is not intended for children under 3. It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Bag.

We can only guarantee one kit per registration.  Please register individually to ensure that kits are appropriately distributed.  Special notes should not be used for additional registrations.

Thank you for your help!

It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Kit.

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Databases

A B C E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V W

A to Z Food America

This resource contains more than 2,000 state, regional, and ethnic recipes - including food culture articles - as well as historical and reference articles including an ingredients section. This is the largest food database of its kind focused solely on diverse American cuisine. 

Visit resource website

A to Z Maps Online

Provides access to over 100,000 various types of maps for the U.S., world countries and continents. A to Z Maps Online contains a large number of specialized maps like antique maps, bathymetric and fishing maps, climate change maps, environmental maps, geography and geology maps, Holy Land maps, tree and bird distribution maps, and more. It also contains flags from world countries and international organizations.

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A to Z the USA

This database contains state, county and city information for all U.S. states and territories. It lists facts and statistics about arts and culture, climate and weather, demographics, flags and seals, government and politics, history, maps, photos, and more.

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A to Z World Food

This resource contains 7,000 traditional recipes from 174 countries, along with thousands of ingredient, food culture, and reference articles, making this the largest food database of its kind. 

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A to Z World Travel

Contains travel guides for over 200 world cities. Each guide contains helpful information about a particular city's food and restaurants, climate and weather, embassies/consulates, health and medical services, travel essentials, money and banking, electrical and telecommunication requirements, and more.

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Bibliography of Indigenous Peoples in North America

Contains citations to books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers, and U.S. and Canadian government documents (with coverage going back to the seventeenth century) about the culture, history and life of indigenous peoples in North America. This resource is provided by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

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Collections

Hoopla logo - blue

Grass Roots Press - Hoopla

Grass Roots Press is a niche publisher, specializing in resources for adults with limited literacy skills. They have an international reputation for publishing high-quality materials for adult basic education and English language learners. This collection can be accessed through Metro's subscription to Hoopla digital. It can be found independently by searching for "Grass Roots Press" in the publisher field using the Advanced Search function. 

Visit Resource Website
Logo of Metro Library Podcast

Metro Library Podcast

Offering Oklahoma-themed podcasts celebrating Oklahoma arts, culture and history as well as the lives of influential Oklahomans today, the Metro Library Podcast is produced by the Special Collections of the Metropolitan Library System.

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