NaNoWriMo activities scheduled throughout October, November

The Pioneer Library System is giving would-be authors some help on their journey to complete a novel as part of National Novel Writing Month this fall.

Known more commonly by participants as NaNoWriMo, the event encourages writers and would-be authors in their writing journey by taking steps to produce a novel in a month. The goal is for authors to write 50,000 words during the month.

Multiple libraries will host Prep Class events to help authors on their journey to a novel in advance of the start of the actual month of writing in November.

The Prep Class schedule includes:

Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1

Norman Public Library Central – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22

Norman Public Library West – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15

Then to get the month started, the SOKC library will present a Kickoff Party, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, followed by weekly Sunday afternoon “Write-In” events in hometown libraries throughout November. Those locations, times and dates are:

Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5

Norman Public Library Central – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12 and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26

Norman Public Library West – 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19

Find out more by visiting any of the participating libraries or going online to the National Novel Writing Month website.

Avedis Foundation, PLS Foundation getting books in the hands of Pott County kids

The Pioneer Library System Foundation, in partnership with the Pottawatomie County Health Department, and through a generous donation from the Avedis Foundation, will be spreading literacy into the community in even more ways.

A $6,000 donation from Avedis is supplying free books that will be given away to children when their families visit the Pottawatomie County Health Department for vaccinations, well-baby checks and other medical needs.

The initial rollout of books will feature about 1,000 total books and 140 different titles, with board books, paperbacks and hardbacks included.

Books were selected by staff from the Pioneer Library System’s Readers Services department, and they’ll all have a healthy living theme, with titles like the tooth care encouragers “Going to the Dentist” and “Zebras Don’t Brush Their Teeth.”

Pictured with some of the materials are, from left, Amber Cole, Development Officer, Pioneer Library System and Foundation; Brenda Potts, Regional Director for the health department; Jessi Ryel, Partnership Director for the health department; Ruth Ann Larman, Administrative Programs Officer for the health department; Angie Porter, Child Development Specialist; Earlene Mason, Admission Specialist; and Wanda Haynes, Branch Manager of the McLoud Public Library.

The program will have an emphasis on targeting low-income families, such as those with mothers involved in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), who may be less likely to be able to provide books to their children. 

The health department also will display literacy-centered posters produced by PLS in its waiting room.

Join Lilly at the library!

Lilly the Mouse brings a special popularity with local first-grade students from several school districts in the Pioneer Library System’s service area.

During the early part of this school year, Lilly is making visits for classrooms to talk about reading and libraries and invite students to come visit her at the library. Lilly is the central character in Kevin Henkes’ popular book series, which is perhaps most famous for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.

Lilly will host Open House events at these PLS libraries:

Moore Public Library – 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6;

Purcell Public Library – 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12;

Noble Public Library – 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26.

In addition, Lilly will also be appearing in an invitation-only private event at the Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library for students from Moore Public Schools near that library.

Find out more about our Lilly and Kevin Henkes books here.

Journey to Wonderland for Mad Hatter Day

“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”

– The Cheshire Cat, in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

While every day is a good one for a journey to Wonderland, Oct. 6 now is set aside especially with its title as “Mad Hatter Day.”

This “holiday” of sorts has only been around for a few years and is a celebration of the Lewis Carroll classic Alice in Wonderland. Its origins come from the Mad Hatter himself and the slip of paper on the front of his hat with “10/6” on it. It’s believed that the hat cost 10 shillings sixpence hence the numbers, but it also works out, obviously, to October 6.

Many of Carroll’s classics, including Alice in Wonderland, are available through the collection of the Pioneer Library System, as are these alternative versions and offshoots.

After Alice by Gregory Maguire

A tale inspired by Lewis Carroll's beloved classic follows the experiences of Alice's friend, Ada, who, upon tumbling down the same rabbit hole, embarks on an odyssey to find and reclaim her friend from a surreal world.

Alice Through the Looking Glass, directed by Alan Handley

This 90-minute film from 2010 sees Alice transformed into Looking Glass Land, where she goes on an adventure and meets up with a variety of interesting characters.

The Nursery Alice by Lewis Carroll

This is a classic version of Carroll’s tale, but adapted for younger and newer readers.

Touch a Truck at annual family event

It’s a morning of smiles, family time and of course, the sights and sounds of big trucks, as the Pioneer Library System Foundation and numerous community partners present the 13th edition of Touch A Truck, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds.

The annual event features dozens of trucks, including public service vehicles, big rigs, construction machines and much more. Attendees will have a chance to get an up-close look at the vehicles and learn a little more about them and how they serve the community.

The morning will begin on a quieter note for families with children who may have sensory sensitivity or just not like all the noise. The 9 to 10 a.m. “Quiet Hour” will give participants a chance to tour all the rigs, trucks and vehicles but guests are asked not to honk any of the horns.

At 10, the noise level will go up as kids can try out the horns as they sit in the driver’s seat of some of their favorite trucks.

There is no official entry fee for the event, although donations will be taken at the entrances. Proceeds go to benefit the Children’s Services departments of the Pioneer Library System’s Cleveland County libraries – Moore, Noble, Southwest Oklahoma City and Norman’s West and Central libraries.

Among the vehicles at the event will be the Pioneer Library System’s Maker Mobile, which will give a look at its features, including a three-dimensional printer, laser cutter and some of the STEAM Kits available for use through the library system to promote science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Touch a truck is made possible by Underwriting Sponsor, Absolute Data Shredding of Norman; Presenting Sponsors, dotprocessagentsllc.com, Dr. Victor Wilson, First Fidelity Bank and ADG; Supporting Sponsors, OG&E, Julia Chew State Farm Insurance, Pamela Sharp, Norman Pediatric Associates, the Traci R. Sykes Foundation OEC and Trifecta Communications.