Hot news from ODL… quite appropriate on such a hot day! In our first “In Brief” posting on the Wright News:
• Congrats to Young Winners in the Summer Newspaper Contest
• Enrollment Opens for Fall Certification Classes
• Oklahoma Book Award Announces Call for Entries
• Next Literary Landmark Honors a Pulitzer Prize Winner
Summer Readers Score!

Congratulations to nine young Oklahomans who scored prizes in the annual Summer Reading Newspaper Contest. Julianne R. of Oklahoma City was grand prize winner. She received a Kindle E-reader and a set of books. Eight weekly winners will also receive books: Aiden F. of Choctaw, Jaycen H. of Cheyenne, Zane A. of Stillwater, Devin L. of Shawnee, Aidan D. of Yukon, Rielyn W. of Moore, Masen G. of Spencer, and Erynn W. of Warr Acres.
ODL has worked with The Oklahoman and their Newspapers in Education program for almost 20 years to hold the annual contest. Summer readers delve into a copy of The Oklahoman or surf the NewsOK.com website to answer weekly questions about news, weather, sports, business, and more. It’s a great opportunity to expose kids and teens to newspapers and news sites.
Sign Up for the Institute
The 2016 Fall Basic Certification Class Schedule is now available for Oklahoma public and tribal library staff members. The Institute of Public Librarianship class schedule is comprised of four classes offered in locations across the state. The topics covered will be:
• Public Library Administration
• Collection Development
• Services for Adults
• How to Think Like a Librarian
Sign Up! If you have questions, contact our Library Certification staff.
Calling all Authors, Poets, Illustrators…
Yep! It’s that time of year again. The Oklahoma Center for the Book is ready to accept your entries for the 28th Annual Oklahoma Book Awards, scheduled for April 8, 2017. Books considered for this award must have an Oklahoma-based theme, or entrants (authors, illustrators, photographers, or book designers) must live or have lived in the state. Books must have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2016. Entries must be received by January 6, 2017. Read about the book award program, and download your entry form.
FOLIO to Honor 12th Oklahoma Author
with Literary Landmark Ceremony
Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO) is a leader in dedicating Literary Landmarks in the U.S. So, we’re not surprised that their next Literary Landmark dedication—which will honor the 12th Oklahoma author with a landmark designation—comes with another first: a challenge to other Friends groups and organizations. Read on…
From a United for Libraries e-mail:
As part of the Pulitzer Prize Centennial celebration, United for Libraries, in partnership with Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma (FOLIO), will dedicate a Literary Landmark for Marquis James (1891-1955), two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biographies of notable Americans. Karen Neurohr, FOLIO coordinator of Oklahoma’s Literary Landmarks dedications, is issuing a friendly challenge to four other organizations in the United States to join Oklahoma in dedicating a Literary Landmark honoring a Pulitzer Prize winner in 2016 -- the Centennial Year of the Pulitzer Prize.

The Literary Landmark dedication for Marquis James will be Saturday, September 17, 2:00 p.m. at the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County. The partners to date include FOLIO, Friends of Enid Public Library, the Cromwell Family, Enid Chamber of Commerce, Visit Enid, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Family of Marquis James, Friends of the Oklahoma Center for the Book, and the Oklahoma State University Library.
We can’t wait! This event occurs during Enid’s annual Cherokee Strip Celebration with community events scheduled Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Cherokee Strip Parade is Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Road Trip!