Professional Documents
Culture Documents
being while they’re at the library. She believes— a larger role throughout the library. The library will
and parents seem to agree—that public libraries have soon have a total of fifteen computers with the major-
a definite positive influence on a child’s development. ity configured for Internet exploration. Access to the
Extending that positive influence to communities, Internet means access to the world, and librarians can
libraries commonly act as neighborhood centers serv- help families find friendly sites that will help children
ing as hosts to various clubs, civic and parent groups. grow.
The Edmond Public Library worked this summer On the Road To Reading
with the local 4-H sponsor to offer an aerospace A classic outreach tool is the venerable bookmo-
camp, where kids ages 9 to 13 learned about space bile. Dee Ann Ray reports that the Western Plains
travel and built model rockets. In Enid, the public Library System always has at least one bookmo-
library and Sooner State Kennel Club sponsored a bile on the road. The daily trips eventually cover a
seminar to launch September’s National Dog Week 4,200 square mile area, with the longest being 160
with the aim of educating children about what they miles round-trip. In rural areas, the bookmobile is the
can do with and for their dogs. A Tulsa library branch main library for some children. Typically, more than
played host to the city’s Snake Club. 50% of the stock of a bookmobile is children’s books.
Everyone’s Access to the Future Some schools use bookmobiles to augment school li-
Computer literacy will be an essential attribute of braries. Ms. Ray remembers one particularly heavy
the work force of the 21st century. A recent Michigan user who recently won the Truman fellowship of the
State survey of 525 businesses, industries and govern- Oklahoma State University business school. Students
mental agencies found that young persons without use bookmobiles to research term papers, and this year
computer skills need not apply for new service sector the Burns Flat school won the state History Day con-
jobs. To fill the need for computer knowledge, many test doing their work through bookmobiles.
libraries have held computer classes for children and As with the bookmobiles of Western Plains, pub-
adults. Many libraries are expanding their resources lic libraries have long worked closely with local
to include services designed to develop children’s key- schools. Today, libraries across the state are likely to
boarding skills and other computer familiarity. The coordinate their shelving decisions according to class-
Anadarko Community Library currently has dedi- room project plans. Students are taught how to use a
cated four computers to CD-ROM educational soft- library and encouraged to stop by often. The Tulsa
ware, with more on the way. Christina Owen, City-County Library promotes student research
Anadarko’s director, says that computers are playing with a free seminar on how to create a winning sci-