Choctaw Public Library

2525 Muzzy Street

Choctaw OK 73020

Phone 405.390.8418

Fax 405.606.3269

Mailing Address:    P.O. Box 549

Choctaw OK 73049

Hours:

Monday to Thursday:            9:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Friday:                                    9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Saturday                                 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 History:

 The Choctaw Library was in a bookmobile until 1978. It moved into a room at the Tri-City Youth and Family Center thanks to the efforts of the Choctaw Library Guild, a non-profit association begun in the early 1970's. Their goal was to start a reading center in Choctaw. In 1982, the Metropolitan Library System upgraded the center to the status of an Extension Library. The Guild recognized the need to expand and undertook to renovate a larger space in the same building. This was completed in October 1985. The Choctaw Library became a full service branch library in 1992. In 1995, the Association incorporated as the Choctaw Library Guild Inc in order to help provide a new building for the library. The library was closed in May 1999 due to tornado damage. Prior to the May 3^rd tornado, the Choctaw Library Guild had purchased land, chose Rand Elliott and Associates as the architect and begun raising money for a new building but after the tornado they joined forces with the City of Choctaw to pass a city bond issue in February 2000. The library re-opened in a temporary location in the Choctaw Plaza on July 26, 2000. On January 20, 2004, the library opened in its permanent new home. The City of Choctaw, the Choctaw Library Guild and the Metropolitan Library System worked together to build a new state-of-the-art library building owned by the City of Choctaw. The Choctaw Library Building has won architectural awards for design, that being a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects, Central States Region. The new library was completed in Spring 2004 and is the pride of Choctaw and all of Eastern Oklahoma County.

 Collection:  

• 26,000 fiction and nonfiction items for adults and children including hardback, paperback books, magazines, compact discs, videocassettes, DVDs 
• Reference materials for in-library use
• Computer access to the library system's collection of 1,000,000 items
• Free Wireless Internet
• Materials to support literacy programs
• Magazines, newspapers and holiday collections
• Materials via interlibrary loan
• e-media Digital Library access via your home computer
• Family Talk Parenting Resource Collection

Services:

• Reference and informational assistance provided by professional staff
• Online computer services including testing resources
• Tours and instruction in use of library resources
• Copy machine and fax services (local ONLY)
• Games, puzzles, learning toys

Programs:

• Annual Summer @ Your Library Reading Program
• Lucky Penny Players and other cultural arts performances during June and July
• Annual Lifetime Society's Winter ReadFest Adult Reading Program (55+)
• Crafts and other activities throughout the year
• Tai Chi, Spanish Language and GED Classes
• Family Place 1,2,3 Parenting Workshops 
• Programs for elementary school age children
• Young adult programs throughout the year and monthly TEEN Advisory Board meetings
• Gardening and Genealogy programs
• Monthly Developmental Screening (0-5) by professional staff from City-County Health Dept
• Monthly Open Play Time Sessions for 6 mos - 5 yrs old and their caregivers
• Weekly story times for children aged birth to 6 years old

Visit www4.mls.lib.ok.us/mlswebcalendar/calendar.asp

Permanent Cultural Arts Displayed at the Choctaw Library:

 “The Kingfisher” by Troy Anderson donated by Colonel Woodrow Taylor. The imagery of the kingfisher plays a significant role in Native American culture because the “kingfisher always wears a war bonnet”.

 About the artist: Troy Anderson is a master artist of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, winning many of their top awards.

 A grouping of art by renowned Seminole artist Enoch Kelly Haney donated by Col Woodrow Taylor...“The Last Great Victory”, “Lest We Forget”, “Preparing for Battle”,  “Fighting Back”, “Freedman’s Vision” and “When the Wind Blew Free” exemplifies and resonates the virtues and courage of a people with strong convictions.

 About the Artist: Enoch Kelly Haney is an internationally recognized Seminole artist who has exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. 

 “Wind Blows Over the Highlands” Japanese Calligraphy created by a Japanese schoolgirl at the Mishima Public Library. The art was given to Storyteller Fran Stallings from Bartlesville while she was on tour in Japan with Hiroka Fugita.  Fran Stallings donated the work to the Territory Tellers, the Statewide Storytelling organization, who in turn had the work framed and is sharing with the Choctaw Library.

 “HeartSong” by Dorothy Sullivan. The Bill Neal (Elk Whistle) Compact disc “Heart Song" was released nationally in June 1998, with cover art by acclaimed Oklahoma Cherokee artist Dorothy Sullivan, which the titled art piece was donated by Col Woodrow Taylor to the Choctaw Library. 

 Dorothy Sullivan is perhaps best known for the painting "She Speaks for Her Clan," which also graces the walls of the Choctaw Library donated by Col Woodrow Taylor. Sullivan was also chosen as Red Earth's "Honored One. Dorothy is Western Cherokee but keeps close ties with the Eastern Cherokees. Col Woodrow Taylor donated four other Native American framed art pieces, two by renowned artist Rabbit.

 Artwork purchased by the Friends of the Metropolitan Library System

 “The Blues” artistic work depicts a young African-American musical protégé’ and his mentor lamenting the legacy of the blues. Linda Kukuk, a life-time resident of the Oklahoma City area, is a self-taught artist. Since the early 1960’s she has participated in numerous art shows, specializing in scratch board etchings and acrylic paintings.

 “Together” represents the afternoon adventure of father and son flying a kite on a windy day and “Kiss” reflects the bond between mother and child, by Oklahoma City artist Robin Thompson.

 “Colorful Peaceful World” by Jane Billman with its faces of many ethnicities graces the walls of the KidZone, along with the whimsical serigraph art of Minnesota artist Holly Sue Foss’ titled “Anatosaurus”, “Ouranosaurus” and “Patience, Strength and Cooperation”.

 Evelyn Parks donated a piece of art highlighting the “Rock Island Railroad Line” in Choctaw by local artist Martie Wyskup, in memory of her father L.E. (Eddie) King a 24-year employee of the Rock Island Line in Choctaw.

 Original Art of the “Storyteller” donated by renowned Oklahoma artist Connie Seabourn.

 Thirteen (13) Stained Glass and Glass Etchings by the Oklahoma Art Glass Association replicates the 13 pieces of original artwork of students from the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Schools, the works are displayed in the entry space of the library. The artwork showcases the many scenes from the landscape of the history of Choctaw. First School established in Choctaw to the rolling hills, golden corn fields and pastures of ponies. The 13 pieces of original artwork by the students is framed and is exhibited on the wall of the Community Room. The framing was underwritten by the dedicated Choctaw Library Guild.

 The hand-quilted “Rise and Shine with Books Rooster Quilt ” was donated by the Choctaw Library Guild in 1987 and represents members of the community who donated their time, expertise and funds for the Choctaw Library Guild Fundraising Quilt Project to raise money for the new library.  The Quilt has been framed in a permanent space with funding from the Friends of the Metropolitan Library System.

Two sculptures donated by Col Woodrow M. Taylor, one of Native American Chief in full tribal regalia titled “Touch the Sky”  by sculptor Neil J. Rose and the other a unique quaint sculpture of Cairn Studios’ Tim Clarke gnomes and a beautiful deer titled “ Spring Cleaning” by Tom Wolfe.

 “History of a Landscape” by Oklahoma sculptor Debi Starke depicts, exhibited at the circulation desk, the embodiment of the history of the Choctaw. The copper and aluminum sculpture represents the Rock Island Railroad and the Indian Meridian Boundary of the Oklahoma Land Run.

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing

photo credit: Robert Shimer, Hedrich Blessing