Adult Services Minutes - November 02, 2022

Guest Speaker

Shiann Copeland, Director of Programs, ReMerge  

ReMerge is a prison diversion program that serves high-risk, high-need mothers in Oklahoma County. If they complete the ReMerge program their charges are dismissed. Oklahoma is currently second highest in the national rate of incarcerated women. They strive to remove barriers (including despair) by paying for housing, clothing, and food to provide wrap-around services to mothers. They are expanding this year from 60 to 68 participants. Programs average 24 months. Time in the program is based on learned objectives. 

They provide case management, health and wellness, education, and career pathways. Their Strengthening Families department works with DHS and helps advocate for reunification and provides parenting classes and other tangible tools. Shiann discussed how they use ACE scores and protective factors to inform their work. They provide counseling, family fun events, and encourage library cards and library usage as a bonding activity. She described library usage as a protective factor.  

To qualify, participants needs to apply with their lawyer for a diversion waiver.  

OES Updates 

Winter Reading: Book Bingo – adding BINGO board in Beanstack, Slim Chickens back as a sponsor (3 free chicken tenders), mug prize, MAC is updating art, training in December 

Americans and the Holocaust – 5 big events planned, pre-exhibit form has been submitted to ALA, installed January 3-4 with grand opening on January 5 

Oklahoma Nutrition calendars – coming from ONIE Project, each library will receive a box with nutrition education and SNAP information to distribute to guests 

Mobile Market – AL, CH, RE, DC have served over 800 people with fresh produce, continuing through March 

Garden Grant update – ODL Health Literacy grant, have been meeting and drafting FAQ and plans for tool lending 

Sharing and Program Discussion 

ED – have finished Edmond Vibes and Heard on Hurd seasons, will be participating in Veteran’s Day celebration, summer yoga class was a huge success, tai chi with OHAI, outreach at UCO Library, discussion about importance of age-specific services 

BE – artist showcase, NaNoWriMo write-in, ongoing coffee and crafts program led by Grant, stop-motion video, becoming an influencer, medieval woodwork and medallion-making, holiday programming, SNU jazz concert and quintet 

DC – Mobile Market success, HSE classes has consistent 4 attending, DHS have been helping with food stamp applications, cooking presentations for traditional Native American dishes for NAHM, holiday budget binders, expanding outreach efforts  

CL – book clubs, STEM projects like simple circuits, mobile maker space 

SO – crafternoon for after school crowd, game night, gingerbread houses, Butterfly Garden of Kindness,  

CH – nutrition talk, take home kits, FAFSA/OK Promise workshops, haunted house went well and had 61 people 

RE – nutrition programs were well-received and had full registration, socio-emotional results from recent programming – was interesting because of recent isolation, candle making take home kits led to in-person event, Restore OKC Trunk or Treat, Mobile Market and pet pantry, ABE classes with CLC, computer basics 

WA – plant swap, Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month events, ofrenda, bread braiding, ESL classes average 6-9 people, tech tutoring, creative writing 

VI – D&D dice potions, OKC Queer Joy, house plants 101, ballet and coffee, continuing with book club and Natural Grocers programs, tai chi will return in the spring, Polar Express all-ages event 

DN – movie screenings, meeting with Rodeo Cinema, book clubs, cooking tutorials for NAHM, adult graphic novel book box 

AL – Haunt the Library, Joy Fest for holidays, displays for NAHM, senior center crafts, Brit Lit book club, terra cotta pumpkin pots, Americans and the Holocaust book lists, container gardening 

OUT – lots of events, festival season, two Remember When programs at the on-site libraries 

PSA – NW events: home ownership class, Total Wellness, NaNoWriMo write-ins, focusing on more outreach; conversations about staffing and hours