TCCL News & Events

It’s never too early to start planning how to finance your child’s college education or too late to pursue a college education yourself. Learn how to prepare for college at Tulsa City-County Library’s “College Financial Aid: Fund Your Future” program.

Sponsored by TCCL’s Research Center, the free program is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue, in Aaronson Auditorium. Speakers are Brad Burnham, college and career counselor, Union High School; Lindsey Tackett, financial aid counselor, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, OSU; and Jessica Reed, Plan4College Center coordinator, Martin Regional Library.

Participants will learn about financial aid options and the library’s Plan4College centers, which are located at the Martin and Rudisill regional libraries. A project with Oklahoma GEAR UP, the centers provide families and students with a one-stop shop for all their college info needs. Each center features a knowledgeable coordinator, computers and handouts that can get anyone started on a great plan for college.

The “College Financial Aid” program also includes information about library resources to help plan for a college education. Ellen Cummings, Research Center manager, recommends the following titles:

• “1001 Ways to Pay for College” by Gen and Kelly Tanabe – Balancing detailed explanations with real-life examples and practical resources, this guide reveals a multitude of ways to finance higher education.
• “Financial Aid for the Utterly Confused” by Anthony J. Bellia – Written by a top financial aid pro with 30 years of experience, this guide walks you through the entire process of obtaining the maximum amount of financial aid to which you may be entitled.
• “Paying for College Without Sacrificing Your Retirement” by Tim Higgins – This guide shows how to maximize your resources, evaluate colleges and financial aid opportunities, avoid crushing student debt, make the tax system work for you and save for retirement.
• “501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for College” by Gen and Kelly Tanabe – This book examines the issues and challenges unique to adults who want to go back to school despite the pressing responsibilities of families, work and mortgages.

For more information about the “College Financial Aid” program or library resources, call Tulsa City-County Library’s AskUs Hotline at 596-7977 or visit www.tulsalibrary.org.

Tulsa City-County Library is offering a series of free programs to help parents and high school students learn about the resources available to help plan for and fund a college education.

The "So You Want to Go to College” series features the following programs. Please contact the hosting library for more details.

• "Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Workshop for American Indian Students,” 10-11:30 a.m., Nov. 7, Maxwell Park Library, 1313 N. Canton, 669-6055. Shonday Harmon, coordinator, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, OSU-Tulsa, will share information on college financial aid and offer step-by-step guidance in completing and submitting the FAFSA application, which is required for any student who would like to receive financial aid. Preregistration is required and limited.
• "Fourth Annual Latino College Fair,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 10, Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road, 669-6340. Meet with representatives from area universities, colleges and vocational schools, plus learn about library resources on colleges and financial aid. The Hispanic Scholarship Foundation’s Gates Millennium Scholars Program will participate. Presentations are in Spanish; information available in English and Spanish. Check out our new Plan4College Center.
• "College Financial Aid: Fund Your Future,” 7-8:30 p.m., Nov. 12, Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue, 596-7977. It’s never too early to start planning how you will finance your child’s college education or too late to pursue a college education yourself. Learn how to prepare for college. Speakers include: Brad Burnham, college and career counselor, Union High School; Lindsey Tackett, financial aid counselor, Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, OSU; and Jessica Reed, Plan 4 College coordinator, Martin Regional Library, Tulsa City-County Library.

"So You Want to Go to College" series is sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust, Tulsa City-County Library Research Center, Hispanic Resource Center, Charles W. and Pauline K. Flint Foundation, YWCA Multicultural Service Center, Paseo de la Salud and GearUp.