The Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS) was recently featured in both Library Journal and American Libraries magazine for the Digital Inclusion project that they have implemented in the past year. This program was made possible by a $12,100 CARES Act grant which allowed SOLS to purchase hotspots for patron check out and outfit a library van to create a digital bookmobile. This bookmobile makes weekly visits to rural communities within the SOLS service area who do not currently have direct access to a library branch. Below is an excerpt of the article in American Libraries in which SOLS was featured: 

Before the pandemic, 50% of residents served by the five-county Southern Oklahoma Library System (SOLS) didn’t have access to a library branch, and 36% of the system’s rural residents lacked broadband internet at home. But with school and library closures brought on by COVID-19, SOLS Executive Director Gail Oehler believes access to digital devices and broadband internet has gotten even worse. 

The 990-square-mile Atoka County, for example, has only one library branch. “The people who live in rural areas lack the ability to get Wi-Fi because there is no cellular service or because of their low economic status,” says Oehler. Like many libraries nationwide, SOLS has seen the digital divide exacerbated at a time when adults urgently need internet access to apply for jobs or government assistance and children require it for remote learning and homework. 

In August 2020, SOLS received a $12,100 grant from the federal CARES Act, which was distributed by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. The library system used the money to convert a library van to a Wi-Fi hotspot. By November, two staff members began taking the van out every Friday and making three community stops lasting up to two hours each. The van also has computers and a small number of books, and it can issue library cards. 

“By having access to [Wi-Fi] in these rural communities, we are living up to the American Library Association’s [code of ethics],” says Oehler. The number of residents who show up for the Wi-Fi van in rural locations might be small by city standards, she acknowledges. “In a very rural community, having 11 people is a very big deal.”

Participants gathered every week and shared their “homework” which included keeping an account of what they had spent that week. Some of the attendees communicated that the Bootcamp changed their lives! One participant said she never knew her credit score or how to access it. Thanks to the program, she was empowered to take on the challenge of fixing her credit and buying a new car. When visiting her friends at the library, she proudly showed off her new car and exclaimed that she never would have had the knowledge and courage to achieve such an accomplishment if it had not been for the Fiscally Fit Boot Camp!

After confirming some details, the customer went on to explain that the library had been his happy place during a dark time. He had previously been living at the Salvation Army and came to the library daily for some solace. In that time he began reading biographies, and that sparked something in him that urged him to try and pull his life back together. He has since moved to Las Vegas and has a close relationship with his children.

This customer attributed his survival to the friendly staff at the Shawnee Public Library and the escape and excitement their library books had given him. He asked that the staff member share his good news with other staff and encourage them that their library work is important and impactful.

The Chickasha Public Library is getting a facelift. Our building needed to be painted but there was no money to do it. I always thought that this building looked like book spines (see before photo) so I’ve always wanted to have book titles painted on it. I’ve seen pictures online of the Kansas City Public Library and I just loved that. Then a local artist came to me and said, “Do you have any work for us?” Then it clicked with me as to how to get this painting done, and have some fun also!

Before

Thus, it began. Customers were encouraged to select their favorite book titles, anywhere from 1-15, and pay a certain amount per panel. There were 18 panels on the west side facing the street that were all quickly reserved. I figured that would take care of one side, but what about the rest of the building? I needn’t have worried. So many people were interested that we quickly had reservations for part of the southside, and the northside too. 

People very much enjoyed the idea and the selecting of titles. A mother wanted to showcase her son’s latest book, a local author. Some grandmothers wanted to honor their grandchildren’s favorite books. A bunch of people got together, each selecting a title and chipping in on the cost. A few local clubs have joined in, but most reservations are just from ordinary people who love books. There are classic titles, old favorites, children and adult titles, fiction, and nonfiction.

After

The artists, Adam and Amber Heilman, have been wonderful to work with and are doing a great job. We haven’t rushed the process. We’ve drawn it out, which has added a sense of pleasant anticipation. We started talking about this project in late March, and it’s still in progress now.

Twenty-three people attended the event, which consisted of two student drag queens reading picture books, presentations on historical figures and terms used in the LGBTQQIA+ community, two coming out stories, presentations from LGBTQQIA+ artists, and updates about LGBTQQIA+ advocacy projects on campus. 

Attendees described the event as "inclusive," "humanizing," and "uplifting." The event was held through a Zoom webinar. 

Learn more about the event at https://ecok.libguides.com/draguniversity or contact Marla Lobley at mlobley@ecok.edu or 580-559-5308.

David Oberhelman, an Oklahoma State University, Edmon Low librarian and Oklahoma Library Association member who died in 2018, has been honored with a Little Free Library in his memory. Family and friends worked together to build the mini-library in front of the house of his brother, Richard Oberhelman, who lives in New Orleans. The Little Free Library matches the architectural style of the home where it was erected. The attached plaque states "In Loving Memory of David Oberhelman." 

This Little Free Library joins more than 100,000 other such public book exchanges in the U.S. Oberhelman was a 20-year OLA member who chaired and served on several committees, including the University and College Division, the Resolutions Committee, and the OLA Gold Leadership Institute Committee. He also served as a mentor at OLA Gold in 2010. He was posthumously named a Library Legend and honored with the David Oberhelman Memorial Scholarship for OLA Gold.

God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates Man. Man destroys God. Man creates Dinosaurs. My dad once told me, laugh and the world laughs with you, Cry, and I'll give you something to cry about you little bastard! Yes, Yes, without the oops!

Remind me to thank John for a lovely weekend. My dad once told me, laugh and the world laughs with you, Cry, and I'll give you something to cry about you little bastard! You really think you can fly that thing? I gave it a cold? I gave it a virus. A computer virus.

We gotta burn the rain forest, dump toxic waste, pollute the air, and rip up the OZONE! 'Cause maybe if we screw up this planet enough, they won't want it anymore! Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

I was part of something special. They're using our own satellites against us. And the clock is ticking. So you two dig up, dig up dinosaurs? You really think you can fly that thing? Did he just throw my cat out of the window? Just my luck, no ice. You know what? It is beets. I've crashed into a beet truck.

Did he just throw my cat out of the window? God help us, we're in the hands of engineers. Did he just throw my cat out of the window? I was part of something special. What do they got in there? King Kong? We gotta burn the rain forest, dump toxic waste, pollute the air, and rip up the OZONE! 'Cause maybe if we screw up this planet enough, they won't want it anymore!