Free. . .@ Your Library

Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw and the Eastern Oklahoma District Library System (EODLS) are encouraging patrons to remember Oklahoma statehood by reading about the state’s history and the incredible fiction written about the state.

President Theodore Roosevelt signed the proclamation making Oklahoma the 46th state on Nov. 16, 1907.

Following are just a few of the recommended materials about Oklahoma available for free at your library.

-“Where the Red Fern Grows” has to be at the top of the list, because this novel, written for the young but enjoyed by everyone, takes place locally. Written by Wilson Ralls, the book has won numerous awards. It is described as a beloved classic that captures the powerful bond between man and man’s best friend. The story tells the tale of Billy, who has long dreamed of owning not one, but two, dogs. So when he's finally able to save up enough money for two pups to call his own—Old Dan and Little Ann—he's ecstatic. It doesn't matter that times are tough; together they'll roam the hills of the Ozarks. Billy and his hounds become the finest hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan's brawn, Little Ann's brains, and Billy's sheer will seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can grow out of despair, and that the seeds of the future can come from the scars of the past.

-“Black Gun, Silver Star” tells the true-life tale of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, who is described as the “most feared U.S. marshal in the Indian country.” That Reeves was also an African American who had spent his early life as a slave in Arkansas and Texas makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable. Author Art T. Burton sifts through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in late nineteenth-century America-and perhaps the greatest lawman of the Wild West era. Fluent in Creek and other southern Native languages, physically powerful, skilled with firearms, and a master of disguise, Reeves was exceptionally adept at apprehending fugitives and outlaws, and his exploits were legendary in Oklahoma and Arkansas. A finalist for the 2007 Spur Award, sponsored by the Western Writers of America, “Black Gun, Silver Star” tells Bass Reeves's story for the first time and restores this remarkable figure to his rightful place in the history of the American West.

-“Oklahoma,” the musical – well, if you’ve seen that one and want something else to watch, don’t forget your local library has movies to lend, for free. Try the documentary “Where Was God?” a more recent history of the state often devastated by tornadoes. The Moore community recounts the destruction wrought by an EF5 tornado that ripped through that city in 2013. They share their experiences of both devastating and miraculous events that changed their lives. These are their stories of hope after the storm.

These are but a smidgen of what is available through Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library.

Get a library card! It’s free! Call 918-776-4481 for more information.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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