Winter has arrived and the Octavia Fellin Public Library (OFPL) is collecting new and gently used winter coats, jackets and other seasonal apparel for homeless veterans throughout the month of December.
Our vets need blankets, gloves, hats, scarves, and more. Please share the gift of warmth and let our veterans know how they mean to all of us!
Donations may be dropped off at the OFPL Main Library, 115 West Hill Ave. during the month of December.
December is always a time of reflection for people and communities to wonder – what could I, or we, have done better?
In the spirit of yearly reflection and looking towards the future of Octavia Fellin Public Library, we invite the public to get involved in our OFPL Neighborhood Reflection Board all month long.
On one side, please write on a slip of paper provided what you love about OFPL — is it seeing fresh-off-the-press books? Movie screenings? Different cultural events you would not have otherwise been a part of?
On the other side, please write things you would like to see changed or improved about the library, from the large to the small.
Once the month of December has wrapped up, we will transform the Reflection Board into community suggestions in order to lobby for a new library that reflects what Gallup wants, needs, and to uphold what folks absolutely love. Come one come all with yearly reflections!
GALLUP – The inaugural First Peoples’ Film Festival highlighted movies produced, written and directed by indigenous filmmakers at the Octavia Fellin Public Library as part of Native American Heritage Month.
Film festival organizer Joshua Whitman, who is the experiential learning coordinator for the library, said the purpose of the event was to bring attention to works that are often overlooked in Hollywood.
“In my opinion, the film industry is predominantly white-washed,” Whitman said. “A lot of popular movies that are directed, produced, and written by people that are popular in the mainstream. The films highlighted in the festival are not really publicized because we are a minority.” Continued After Image
Whitman said he wanted to showcase Native American films because the community is predominantly Native American, making up about nearly 75% of the population in McKinley, County.
Whitman said he began planning the film festival about three months in advance, but it almost didn’t come together. He planned to show films for two weeks, but he ran into technical difficulties and licensing troubles.
There were also movies in production or post-production that he hoped to show but they are not yet ready.
Whitman researched Native American films via the library’s film streaming service Canopy. He then chose films that pertained to contemporary issues, particularly the transition from pre-colonization and colonization into modern society.
GALLUP – The sight of a nun walking down Thoreau’s NM Highway 371 with an acoustic guitar strapped to her shoulder is one of the reasons Jerry Brown changed the course of his life.
Brown, now a successful artist from Mariano Lake, had dropped out of high school and had no direction. In his own words, “I was too wild.” He had spent a few years in different boarding schools in the area, a school in Utah and public schools in Thoreau, Wingate and Crownpoint. Continued after Image
“I started the public school, but I didn’t like it there and walked back to the house.” he said
It was around 1988 when Brown saw the nun walking down the street in Thoreau. The nun was “Sister Michelle.” She was the principal of St. Kateri Tckakwitha school in Thoreau, which later became St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School.
Brown remembered the school was known as “the academy,” and it was a small campus. He was so intrigued by the sight of Sister Michelle walking with her guitar that he decided to visit the school.
“They put me in 10th grade. I met all the teachers. They came from all walks of life. They were missionaries that were doing the good thing for the natives,” Brown said.
GALLUP – Josh Whitman was making non-alcoholic mojitos with club soda instead of rum, and Shirley Temple with grenadine syrup and lime juice during a mocktails-and-coloring event at the Octavia Fellin Public Library Saturday.
On the table, next to the cups, syrup, ginger ale, ice cubes, and mixers, Whitman had a spread of designs and colored pencils. On another table behind him, Whitman had a set of speakers and was streaming indie music on Spotify.
“Coloring is one of the things you can do and not stress about it.” Whitman, the library’s experiential learning coordinator said. Continued After Image
“I have 14 different designs for them to choose from, and three different cocktails – I call them mocktails. The holidays could be stressful time of the year when people are shopping.” he said. “This is a free of stress and gives them a nice creative outlook to creative expression.”
Danielle Leekity, 32, and her children Anjelica, 11 and Jacob, 5, learned about the activity on Facebook and decided it was a good way to spend their Saturday in Gallup. The mother and her two children were sitting next to each other on an adjacent table and were coloring while enjoying their drinks.
“My daughter is very artistic. She has pastels at home and taught herself how to draw,” Leekity said. “We usually come her for the events. Everybody says it gives children something to do but it is also for the families. a relaxing wat to spend the weekend. We go to the ArtsCrawl every month. The fun part about this area. everything is within walking distance.”
Join us at Children’s Branch on Saturday, November 23rd at 2:00 p.m. for an afternoon of magical brewing as we brew our very own consumable potions inspired by the Harry Potter franchise.
Continuing our very own journey through the wizarding world we will brew potions such as Felix Felicis (Liquid Luck), Amortentia (Love), and a Beautification potion. *Brewable potion ingredient list below.*
Watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as we brew our potions.
Email jwhitman@gallupnm.gov or call 505-726-6120 for more information.
GALLUP – Shimá Storytelling began with Radmilla Cody briefly informing attendees in the audience that taking photos and recording songs and performances by the trio – comprised of Cody, Pauletta Chief-Lee, and Stefanie Littlehat – was forbidden.
Anne Price of the Octavia Fellin Public Library Children’s Branch and their staff invited Shimá storytelling as their guests for Native American Heritage Month and Native Language Programming Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m..
Along with songs aimed at revitalizing Diné Bizaad, or the Navajo language, the group also hopes to promote awareness of consent. Continued after image.
Too often in this age – the age of social media – we forget that we need to ask permission to take photos or record sessions, said Cody, after all, it is their body, their choice.
“Not only do we want to empower youth by encouraging them to speak up against anyone attempting to capture their likeness or their actions, we also want to create a safe space for everyone so that they can be free to be themselves,” she said. “We’re very sensitive towards other people’s preferences – whatever those may be. This is something that we have done from the beginning.”
When Shimá Storytelling began their story in April, their goal was to bring their children together to socialize and play with one another while listening and speaking Navajo.
Join us at El Morro Events Center on Friday, November 22nd at 4:00 p.m. for a reading and discussion with Newberry and Printz author Gary D. Schmidt.
He will be reading from his novel The Wednesday Wars and we will be giving away 25 copies of the title as door prizes to be signed by the author.
This program is in partnership with Rehobeth Christian School.
Email childlib@gallupnm.gov or call 505-726-6120 for more information.
Join us at the Main Library for a FREE film screening. Free popcorn and drinks are provided.
Victor’s father left when he was a boy, and he now learns that his father just died, and his mother sends him to collect the ashes. He is only able to make the trip with Thomas’ help, however, and there is a condition that is difficult for him to accept: Victor must swallow his pride and take Thomas with him.
Gallup Solar will be at the Main Library on Tuesday, November 19th at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the benefits of solar power and answer questions.
If you currently live without electricity, solar power could be the answer for you. Gallup Solar will explain how it can be possible to utilize this form of power, even in remote areas.
Join us to find out how.
Email mdchavez@gallupnm.gov or call 505-863-1291 for more information.