Friday Night Fun at the Library

In my early teens, there wasn’t a lot to do on a Friday night. There were a handful of home football games, and if we were lucky there might be a school dance followed by a mile long walk to eat at Pizza Inn. If we were really lucky, one of our friends’ parents had a VCR and we’d watch horror movies (Hard to believe we got away with watching films like “Pieces” and “Sleepaway Camp”). And if we were really, really lucky, one of our high school siblings would show great mercy (or capitulate to blackmail) and let us crouch down in the back seat of their car as they dragged Main. But truly, on Friday nights in a small town, there’s just nothing to do.

Kids today still have the same problem--few choices and very little to do, especially if they don’t have any money and don’t want to hang out with mom and dad. And that’s why our teen librarian, Amanda, has introduced “Fribrary.” Fribrary is a new program held at the library each Friday evening, usually from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It is for young adults in grades 6-12. It’s safe. It’s free. And it’s fun.

The first Friday of the month is “Teen Advisory Committee” when young adults can plan programs and give the library input on teens’ programming and reading needs. After the meeting, they’ll enjoy a film and food (I can absolutely promise you that neither “Pieces,” nor “Sleepaway Camp” will be shown). The second Friday is devoted to Anime Club, an already popular Friday night fixture.

The third Friday focuses on Makerspace activities, while the fourth Friday is reserved for special standalone programs like the one this Friday (Oct. 28) themed on “Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.” On Friday, teens will be making old-time and peculiar photos and buttons and sample some peculiar food. They’ll also have chances to win passes to the movie and everyone will get some sweet swag sent to us from the movie promoters. The fifth Friday of the month, which is fairly rare, will bring “Fandom Friday.”

Fribrary is currently an experiment. We’ll assess its success when we take a mid-December holiday break, and decide whether to continue on. So, we encourage anyone who is interested to attend now. For parents, I’d have to think that it would be an awfully convenient way for you to avail yourselves of two quiet hours on a typically frenzied Friday night.

For more info on the program, give Amanda a call at 405.372.3633 x8127 or email her at abell@stillwater.org.

Library celebrates their Friends Oct. 16-22

Thirty five years ago, the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library had their first used book sale, and they have been sweating and toiling every year since to make sure that our community has everything its library needs. This week, we join together to celebrate our Friends along with other libraries across the nation who are celebrating “Friends of the Library Week” Oct. 16-22. I am pretty sure, though, that our Friends are the very best in the nation.

Twice a year, the Friends hold giant used books sales. The work involved requires hours and hours of labor all year long. Each week, the Friends haul, move, sort, categorize, inspect, and box hundreds of books donated by the community along with ones removed from our collection. They spend an intense several weeks preparing for the sales, and it takes a ton of Friends to pull off each event.
The results of their efforts can be seen throughout the library: huge numbers of books, digital resources, pieces of equipment and furniture, training for librarians, all of our programming and so much more. If you come into the library this week, you’ll see everything their hard works has given us marked with a bright pink sign. It is amazing how much they contribute and what we wouldn’t have if not for our Friends. Here are just a few of their recent contributions:

• Wandoo, the summer reading program tracker

• Library Thing for Libraries, the service that lets us see reviews and images in our catalog

• Public computers

• The notary service

• A large portion of our eBooks

• All of the book club kits we purchase

• The Great Gatsby/Fire in Beulah series

• Book with CDs for adults with developmental disabilities who are beginning readers

• ALL adult, teen, and children’s summer AND year round programming

Personally, I know without a doubt that there is no way I could do my job if it weren’t for the support of the Friends.

So this week, please take the time to say “thanks” to the Friends you know and to the people you see in the library always wheeling around beige carts overflowing with books. Better yet, why not become a Friend yourself and let us give you some love too! Friends memberships are $10 per year, or you can get a lifetime membership for just $100. Joining is easy-just pick up a Friends envelope at the Checkout Desk.

The big benefit of being a Friend is getting into the Thursday preview at the fall and spring book sales. You can also sign up to help sort books throughout the year and help at the book sales. But---the real benefit is knowing you are helping provide free access to information and reading resources for your entire community. Thank you Friends!

Starting Your Small Business

On Saturday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Brad Rickelman, Assistant Director of the Center for Business Development at Meridian Technology Center, will teach a weekend session of “Beginning Your Business” at the Stillwater Public Library.

The Center for Business Development has been partnering with the library to provide a beginning business class the last several years. Rickelman hopes it will help people who want to start a business understand the processes that need to be completed before opening.

“One of the most common errors is taking big steps before your have done the appropriate planning,” said Rickelman. “This class will help prospective business owners avoid that mistake.”

Students in the class will learn about common errors in beginning a business, how to research and develop the market for products or services and how to plan financial needs.

“Starting Your Business" is free and open to the public. Registration is required and will be taken until Oct. 13 at 5 p.m. To sign-up, go to the library's website at http://library.stillwater.org, email askalibrarian@stillwater.org or call 405-372-3633 x 8106.

Stillwater has a network of organizations that assist business owners, including the Center for Business Development at Meridian Technology Center which provides business consulting and coaching, business incubation and networking and education events. Other resources include:

• OSU Payne County Extension, which hosts monthly meetings and learning opportunities for home based businesses.
• Oklahoma Small Business Development Center at OSU, which provides entrepreneurs with professional business consulting at no cost, including management training and vital information they need to grow and succeed.
• Stillwater Public Library, which provides hard copy books and eBooks on business and management subjects and the Small Business online database, which provides thousands of articles, videos, and books on all manner of business.

Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.).