29 Dec YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR HEALTHY LIVING

Eastern Oklahoma (EOLS) libraries are a great resource for a number of things one might not realize. Of course, books remain the top resource a library offers, but those books can cover much more than entertaining fiction: self-help, home repair, car repair, job search advice, scientific answers, philosophical answers—books are one of the greatest resources libraries offer.

But many libraries also offer much more, including adult literacy classes, U.S. Citizenship classes, GED classes, language classes, and health-related classes, seminars, and workshops. Library programs cover a wide range of interests for all ages, including arts and crafts, music, DIY, photography, book clubs, gaming, exercises, Tai Chi, seniorcise, chair yoga, beginner’s yoga and much more.

For example, Stilwell Public Library offers craft projects for ages 5-13 every Monday, and adult crafts at least once a month. Q.B. Boydstun Library in Fort Gibson has low impact “seniorcise” classes three times a week, cooking classes, and STEM activities. John F. Henderson Public Library in Westville has monthly craft classes for adults and children and chess classes.  The Hulbert Community Public Library has adult coloring hour for a stress-free, quiet time for busy adults and offers a day pass to nearby Sequoyah State Park that card holders can borrow instead of paying the $10 a day use fee to swim and fish there. Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library has a growing history project called “Football and Founders.”  Warner Public Library holds book and lunch meetings, science activities and will soon begin a Girls Who Code Club. All EOLS libraries also hold storytimes weekly for children four and under, and special events.

Muskogee Public Library offers the adult education classes in-person and online for anyone in the six-county EOLS district. Tahlequah Public Library does as well, in-person for the most part, but including literacy, citizenship, GED, and language.

Health literacy is an especially important part of the resources EOLS libraries offer. Many are funded through grants by Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI), local towns and municipalities, and local health departments.

Muskogee Public Library, the Jim Lucas Checotah Public Library, Grove Public Library, and Rieger Memorial Library in Haskell, are offering Staying Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) classes—”a fitness program for older adults, which can be done sitting or standing. Performing exercise that improves strength, balance and fitness is critical for staying active and reducing the risk of falls.”

Grove Public Library and Delaware County Library offer Chair Yoga, while Eufaula Memorial Library offers Restorative Yoga. Tai Chi, sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (ODL) and Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS), is offered at Muldrow Public Library. Eufaula Memorial Library has beginner and advanced Tai Chi classes.

All Adair County libraries, Cherokee County libraries, Delaware County libraries, McIntosh County libraries, Sequoyah County libraries, and Muskogee County libraries offer one or more of these health classes at different times throughout the year, so watch your library’s events page for upcoming classes, dates, and times.