FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 28, 2024

November at the Library: Native American Heritage Month, Library Out Loud, and OKC Ballet Events

This November, the Metropolitan Library System invites you to celebrate Native American Heritage Month with special events, take-home kits, a library concert and holiday events in collaboration with the OKC Ballet. There’s something for everyone!

Native American Heritage Month Events & Kits
Families are invited to explore diverse Native cultures with a variety of engaging take-home kits available at local libraries. Here are some highlights:

• Painted Feathers Kit – Nov. 1-8 at Downtown OKC Library: Adults can pick up this kit and create painted feather crafts inspired by Native American traditions.
• Native American Art Kit – Nov. 4-10 at Bethany Library: A hands-on kit for kids to create their own Native-inspired artwork.
• Corn Husk Doll Kit – Nov. 4-10 at Warr Acres Library for all ages & Nov. 14-21 at Downtown OKC Library for teens and adults: A family-friendly craft kit to make traditional corn husk dolls.
• Native American Heritage Month Quiz Kit – Nov. 1-26 at Ralph Ellison Library: A fun and educational quiz kit available for all ages.
• Model Underwater Lab Kit – Nov. 11-17 at Ralph Ellison Library: A take-home kit inspired by Chickasaw astronaut John Herrington, ideal for families interested in space exploration and engineering.
• Rez Ball Lit Kit – Nov. 12 at The Village Library: Teens can register for this kit to explore the culture of basketball in Native American communities.
• Native American Corn Soup Kit – Nov. 14-21 at Downtown OKC Library: Adults can learn to make a traditional Native dish with this unique take-home kit.
• Native American Heritage Take-Home Kit for Families – Nov. 11-17 at Northwest Library: Families can pick up a special take-home kit celebrating Native cultures.

Additionally, don't miss these exciting in-person events:

• Grape Dumplings Cooking Tutorial – Nov. 1, 4 p.m. at Downtown OKC Library: Learn how to prepare a traditional Native dish that’s beloved across many tribal nations.
• Choctaw Social Dance Demonstration – Nov. 16, 11 a.m. at Downtown OKC Library: Enjoy a lively Choctaw social dance performance and learn about the culture from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
• Indigenous Artists and Authors Fair – Nov. 16, 1 p.m. at Belle Isle Library: Meet local Native artists and authors, enjoy free activities and watch a showcase by the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers.

For a full list of Native American Heritage Month events and take-home kits, visit metrolibrary.org/NAHM.

Join Us for Novelist Month this November!
Write 50,000 words this November! Whether you’re starting fresh or continuing a project, drop in for our write-ins at your library. Bring your computer or favorite writing tool and meet your word count goals!

Write-In Schedule:

• Mondays: 6-8 p.m. at Belle Isle Library
• Tuesdays: 6-8 p.m. at Bethany Library
• Wednesdays:
  • 3-5 p.m. at Warr Acres Library
  • 6-8 p.m. at Northwest Library
• Thursdays: 6-8 p.m. at Downtown Library
• Fridays: 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Midwest City Library
• Saturdays:
  • 10 a.m.-noon at Del City Library
  • 1-2:30 p.m. at Village Library
• Sundays: 2-4 p.m. at Ralph Ellison Library

Celebrate your success on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. at Bethany Library!

Concert at the Library – Library Out Loud Nov. 7
Join us for Library Out Loud on Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Downtown OKC Library, featuring an audio/visual collaboration with local experimental musicians and visual artists, including BIRD DRUGS, ut mutem and Tired Ocean. The Oklahoma Underground Music Archive (OK UMA) preserves local alternative music scenes and publishes the monthly zine UMAmi.

Holiday Season Fun with OKC Ballet
Get into the holiday spirit with a magical collaboration between the Oklahoma City Ballet and the Metropolitan Library System! These festive events combine ballet and books for an enchanting experience:

• Books and Ballet: Celebrate The Nutcracker with a short ballet class, a reading of a Nutcracker-themed book and a meet-and-greet with a ballet dancer. Designed for kids ages 5-10 and their grown-ups.
  • Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. at Northwest Library
  • Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. at Almonte Library
  • Nov. 25 at 2 p.m. at Midwest City Library
• Move and Groove with OKC Ballet: This inclusive dance program promotes health and confidence through fun dance activities, with both seated and standing segments to accommodate adults of all abilities.
  • Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. at Choctaw Library
  • Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. at Southern Oaks Library
  • Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at Almonte Library

Pages to Stages with OKC Broadway
Experience the magic of Broadway with Pages to Stages, presented by OKC Broadway and the Metropolitan Library System! Enter online or in-person for a chance to win tickets to shows like Beetlejuice The Musical, Peter Pan The Musical, Some Like It Hot The Musical and & Juliet. Enjoy themed events at our libraries and stay updated at metrolibrary.org/pagestostages!

• Join us for the Pages to Stages: Beetlejuice Scavenger Hunt at Almonte Library, Nov. 1-27! Register to win tickets to OKC Broadway's "Beetlejuice" and complete the fun scavenger hunt to earn a cool Beetlejuice sticker (while supplies last).

For a complete list of events and locations, visit metrolibrary.org. For media inquiries and interviews, please contact Kelly Dexter at 405-606-3755 or kelly.dexter@metrolibrary.org.