Adult Programs
New Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance beginning session begins January 9th.
Have you fallen? Are you worried about falling? Try Tai Chi.
“With regular practice, tai chi improves balance by strengthening muscles and co-ordination; at the same time, it strengthens the mind, thereby improving calmness and confidence in not falling. Thus, both physically and mentally, tai chi is an extremely effective exercise for fall prevention.” (taichiforhealthinstitute.org)
“Slow, deliberate movements improve your stability and protect against falls. The slow, flowing motions of tai chi train you to shift your weight while maintaining your balance. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese exercise that can help older adults improve their balance and lower their fall risk.” (health.harvard.edu)
Learn Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance in our beginner’s class which starts January 9th, and meets on Mondays & Thursdays 3:30-4:30, call the library to register due to limited space. The class meets for 8 weeks.
Building Resilience
Spring is a great time to pause and consider our goals for the year. Join Virginia Savage, LCSW, Art Therapist, at the Chickasha Public Library on Thursday, March 17 at 6 pm to 8 pm to continue our community conversation about mental health and how we can improve our resilience to whatever life brings.
The Building Resilience program is free of charge, however, space is limited and registration is required. To register, call 405-222-6075 or visit the library at 527 W Iowa.
In this program, you will learn a smart method to create achievable goals and then use two-dimensional materials to create unique vision boards for 2022. Participants will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the process.
All necessary materials will be provided, however, participants may want to bring images of their own for the vision board.
Bring your imagination, and join us!
This program is funded through the Oklahoma Department of Libraries with a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
National Library Week!
National Library Week is April 4-10, 2021, and this year’s theme is “Welcome to Your Library!” According to the American Library Association, this theme “promotes the idea that libraries extend far beyond the four walls of a building – and that everyone is welcome to use their services.” The Chickasha Public Library provides access to a variety of information, services, resources, and programs, both physical and virtual, to everyone in the community. During National Library Week, the Chickasha Public Library will be celebrating its resources, users, staff, volunteers, support groups, and the many ways in which it reflects and serves this community.
There are many ways to celebrate and promote libraries. You can show your library love by participating in the #MyLibraryIs social media campaign during National Library Week for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Monday, April 5th The State of America’s Libraries 2021 Special Report: COVID-19 will be released. Tuesday, April 6th is National Library Workers Day, Wednesday, April 7th is National Library Outreach Day, think bookmobile among other programs not held within a library building, and Thursday, April 8th is Take Action for Libraries Day. The American Library Association encourages people to support the Build America’s Libraries Act, which will “fund upgrades to the nation’s library infrastructure to address challenges such as natural disasters, COVID-19, broadband capacity, environmental hazards, and accessibility barriers.”
The American Library Association lists several different activities in which people can support libraries during National Library Week. These include showing appreciation to library staff in person and on social media on National Library Workers Day, highlighting the library’s community contributions and involvement, communicating how libraries provide essential resources, services, and information to their communities, and advocating for library funding and support within local, state, and federal governments. You can highlight libraries on social media using the #NationalLibraryWeek, and #LibrariesTransform hashtags, and by following the American Library Association and I Love Libraries.
American Library Association has also created a word search and coloring pages for National Library Week. Click on each link below to view and print each one.
National Library Week Word Search Activity Page (PDF)
National Library Week Coloring Page (PDF)
National Library Week Coloring Page in Spanish (PDF)
Finally, a great way to celebrate National Library Week is to visit the Chickasha Public Library, where you can also find several books about public libraries and their continuing impact on individuals and communities. If you are looking for a history of public libraries, Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library by Wayne Wiegand (027.473 Wiegand) discusses the value and relevance of public libraries as a whole throughout the history of this country. Closer to home, A History of the Chickasha Public Library, 1905-2020: The First 115 Years by library staff member Michelle Skinner (027.476 Skinner) is about the history of this specific library (and a copy can also be purchased for $10 at the library).
More perspectives of libraries written by staff from other libraries include Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron (636.80092 Myron) and Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library by Don Borchert (BIOGRAPHY Borchert), a humorous memoir about some of the more unusual and entertaining aspects of working in a public library.
Come to the Chickasha Public Library and discover the many resources it has to offer during National Library Week! We hope to see you there!
Health Literacy Lunch & Learn Series
The Chickasha Public Library is happy to announce that we have partnered with the Grady County Memorial Hospital to bring you a series of Health Literacy family orientated Lunch and Learn programs. Dietitian Cindy Wilcox will present a variety of topics to help your family thrive. Each month’s theme will focus on a different solution for today’s busy families.
The Health Literacy Lunch and Learns to kick off April 23, 2019, at 1:00 P.M. with “Budgeting and Meals for Two.”
Ms. Wilcox will give students tools and ideas for creating meal plans and budgets for smaller households. Lunch will be provided, or you are welcome to bring your own. Lunch and Learns will be held in the Library’s large meeting room located at 527 W Iowa Ave, space is limited, and registration is required. Please call the Library at 222-6075 to register.
Planned future topics include, “Healthy Snacks,” “Introducing your Baby to New Foods,” “Packing a Healthy Lunch.” We also are planning a program for teens to show how they can prepare healthy snacks.
“This project is funded in part through the Oklahoma Department of Libraries with a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.”
Library History Search
2020 will mark the 115th year of the Chickasha Public Library. A lot has happened in that time and we want to celebrate! We are preparing a written history of the Library complete with a scrapbook of photos and news articles. If you have any pictures or news articles about the Library that you would like to share, please bring them in and talk to Michelle or Lillie. Also, if you have a memory you would like to share about the Library write it down and get it to us or if you prefer, we’ll write it for you please make an appointment with Michelle or Lillie. If you were on the Library Board or were employed at the Library, please contact us by calling 405-222-6075. We would like to make sure that our information is correct, we would like to know names and dates and photos to go with them would be great! Let’s enjoy the process. For additional information, please call the Library at 405-222-6075.
Food for Fines
Chickasha Public Library Fines Waived in December with a donation of food
Do you have fines on your Library account? Get them waived in December by bringing in a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Pantry. “The end of the year is a great time to get accounts cleared for a fresh start for the new year. I want customers to be able to check out Library books. This is a great way for customers to get fines waived and help the local Food Pantry too.” The books must be turned in to the Library for the fines to be waived, perhaps you’ve already done that, or perhaps you can do that now, and bring in a non-perishable food item, quantity doesn’t matter. All food is donated to the local Food Pantry. This program covers only overdue fines not replacement fees for lost or damaged books. Donations for the Food Pantry are accepted and encouraged even if you don’t have fines. In addition to the much-needed food, many overdue books come home to the Library. Not having to repurchase popular titles means the Library can buy more new books. The program runs from December 1st – December 31st. If you have questions, call the Library at 222-6075.
Books Come Alive and Local Authors Festival
On November 16th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm the Chickasha Public Library will be hosting their 2nd annual Books Come Alive and Local Authors Festival event. This year we are using books from the PBS Great American Reads booklist, there will be actors portraying book characters, book scavenger hunts, prizes, and fun for all. There is also an opportunity for the public to meet local authors, discuss their books, and buy them. Both events are FREE, donations will be welcome at the door.
Free Genealogy Symposium
The Chickasha Public Library is hosting a Free Genealogy Symposium, Tuesday, September 25th. Sessions begin at 10:00 am and continue till 5:00 pm. Registration is required. Space is limited to 20 people for each presentation and you may register for any or all of the presentations. Register with Library staff at the front desk or call the Library at 405-222-6075.
Genealogy Speakers:
10:00-12:00
Beginning genealogy, including the basics of online research and finding trustworthy sources, presented by Michelle Skinner, Chickasha Public Library staff. There will be a question and answer session from 11:30 am-12:00 pm.
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Finding Native American ancestors and using the Dawes Roll in genealogical research, presented by Nancy Calhoun, head of the Genealogy and Local History Department at Muskogee Public Library.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Panel discussion with Genealogy Symposium speakers.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Advanced genealogy and using primary sources, presented by Dolores Smith, a retired educator and a current volunteer at the Oklahoma History Research Center in Oklahoma City.