One million and counting!
The Pioneer Library System’s 2019 Summer Learning Challenge featured a goal of community readers earning one million points by August through a variety of activities.
Well, you’ve done it! Already! Readers have shattered that goal, reaching the one million point total by mid-June.
In celebration, each of the 12 PLS libraries in Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties will host a Community Goal Celebration to mark the achievement on Wednesday, June 26. Libraries will celebrate with an “out of this world” dress-up day related to this year’s Summer Learning theme, “A Universe of Stories.”
More importantly, the achievement has triggered a donation PLS will make of 3,000 books to children participating in the WIC program in each of the three counties. The book donations were funded by the Pioneer Library System Foundation, Cynthia Cooper and the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative. PLS is working directly with the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, McClain County Health Department and Cleveland County Health Department to distribute the books during the next year.
As of mid-June, more than 5,600 people have enrolled in this year’s Summer Learning Challenge, and already almost 500 have completed their personal goals.
So what’s next? Now librarians are going to set a new goal in a “Mega Challenge” for communities.
This time, the goal number is to reach a total of three million points. Library users can continue to earn points toward their individual goals for the summer through various activities. Those who haven't yet signed up are invited to get their signup process started here.
Stay tuned for details on future activities that will commemorate this mark, once we get there.
Sponsors for this year’s Summer Learning Program are the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Friends of the Library groups, Hitachi Computer Products of America (Inc.), Institute of Museums and Library Services, Oklahoma College Savings Plan, Pioneer Library System, Pioneer Library System Foundation, Sonic, Oklahoma Department of Libraries and the Oklahoman Newspapers in Education.
June is GLBT Book Month
The American Library Association has designated June as GLBT Month, as an annual nationwide celebration of the authors and writings that reflect the lives and experiences of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
The Stonewall Book Awards List, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Round Table of the American Library Association, is the first and most enduring award for GLBT books. We have most the the award and honor winners for 2019! Below are some the award winners. We also have a number of similar books in our catalog for all ages. Happy reading!
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Adult Fiction F MAKKAI, Large Print Fiction LP F MAKKAI, OverDrive eBook and audiobook
A novel set in 1980s Chicago and contemporary Paris follows the director of a Chicago art gallery and a woman looking for her estranged daughter in Paris who both struggle to come to terms with the ways AIDS has affected their lives.
Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
Adult Fiction F IWEALA, OverDrive eBook and audiobook
An Ivy League-bound star athlete from a prestigious private school in Washington, D.C., and his best friend, the daughter of prominent government insiders, struggle with brutal responses to the young man's sexual orientation before finding themselves speeding toward a violent and senseless future.
White Houses by Amy Bloom
Adult Fiction F WHITE HOUSES, Large Print Fiction LP F BLOOM, Overdrive audiobook
Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, "Hick," as she's known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have.
Luisa, Now and Then by Carole Maurel
Adult Graphic Novel F MAUREL
At 32, Luisa encounters her 15-year-old self. Single, and having left behind her dream to become a renowned photographer, she is struggling to find out who she is and what she wants. In order to help and guide her younger self, she must finally face herself and her past. When Luisa finds herself attracted to a female neighbor, things become even more complicated.
Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilberty
Teen Fiction TEEN F GILBERT, Overdrive eBook, Hoopla eBook
Daniel, a Chinese-American teen, must grapple with his plans for the future, his feelings for his best friend Harry, and his discovery of a family secret that could shatter everything.
Hurricane Child by Kheryn Callender
Childrens Fiction CF CALLENDER, OverDrive eBook and audiobook, Hoopla audiobook
Born on Water Island in the Virgin Islands during a hurricane, which is considered bad luck, twelve-year-old Caroline falls in love with another girl--and together they set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother.
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
Childrens Fiction CF BLAKE (currently shelved in Teen Sequoyah), OverDrive eBook and audiobook
Twelve-year-old Ivy Aberdeen's house is destroyed in a tornado, and in the aftermath of the storm, she begins to develop feelings for another girl at school.
Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
Childrens Picture Book P LOVE
While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes--and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself?
Blast off with Summer Learning!
The name is a little different, but the idea is the same, with the libraries of the Pioneer Library System providing a wealth of activities in the summer months as part of the annual Summer Learning Program.
It’s a slight departure from the longtime name “Summer Reading Program,” because even with reading being a central focus of everything the library is about, there is much more to the library’s summer activities than just reading.
Signups now are under way for the Summer Learning Challenge, and library lovers of all ages are invited to get their signup process started here.
Participants in the Summer Learning Challenge can earn “points” not just for reading but also attending programs, taking part in STEM-related activities, checking out literacy kits and more. The system goal is to earn one million points this summer.
As a reward to communities for reaching the successful goal, the Pioneer Library System Foundation will donate books to children in Cleveland, McClain and Pottawatomie counties.