TCCL News & Events

Pearl Cleage, an award-winning playwright and author, will receive Tulsa City-County Library’s African-American Resource Center’s Sankofa Freedom Award, Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m., at Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford. This event is free and open to the public. Cleage shot to national prominence in 1994 with her play “Flyin’ West,” which was the most-produced new play in the country that year. She struck gold with her first book, “What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day,” released in 1997. After being selected as an Oprah Book Club pick, the debut author spent nine weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

She has also written “Seen It All and Done the Rest,” “Baby Brother’s Blues,” “We Speak Your Names,” “Babylon Sisters,” “Some Things I’d Never Thought I’d Do” and “I Wish I Had a Red Dress.” Many of her books are set in southwest Atlanta, where Cleage has lived since 1970. Through her optimism, she takes the reader on a journey balancing love, family and careers in an urban setting.

“Pearl Cleage, having grown up as the daughter of a church pastor who played a prominent role in the civil rights movement, gives voice to issues that plague our society. Her plays and writings address citizenship, patriotism, individual responsibility and healing while addressing poverty, domestic violence, addiction and political corruption,” explained Alicia Latimer, African-American Resource Center coordinator. “Still, Cleage reminds us of the importance of family, friendship and community. Her work is honest, intelligent and important.”

The Sankofa Freedom Award consists of a $5,000 cash prize and an engraved medallion. It is given annually in February during Black History Month to a nationally acclaimed individual who has dedicated his or her life to educating and improving the greater African-American community.

Sankofa is a word from the Akan language, which is spoken in southern Ghana. Literally translated, Sankofa means: “We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.”

For more information about the Sankofa Freedom Award or the African-American Resource Center, call the Rudisill Regional Library, 596-7280.

Light bulbs, automobiles, sewing machines and zippers – these now commonplace items each were invented by someone who had an idea and the initiative to make life simpler. If you have an idea for a new invention, product or service, learn how to register and protect your idea at Tulsa City-County Library’s “Day of Innovation and Invention” workshop.

The library’s Research Center is offering the free two-part workshop on Thursday, Oct. 1 at Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue.

Part 1, “Preliminary Patent, Trademark and Copyright Research,” is from 10 a.m. to noon in the library’s Computer Training Room. The first step to developing your idea is to check existing intellectual property to see if what you have invented already exists. This workshop will show you how to start a preliminary patent search, locate U.S. classifications for your product area, search U.S. registered and pending trademarks, and understand U.S. copyright and how to register.

Part 2, “Protecting and Promoting Your Intellectual Property,” is from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the library’s Aaronson Auditorium. Join patent attorney Molly McKay, Tulsa City-County Library Research Wizard librarian Martha Gregory and SCORE volunteer Jim Killerlain as they share their experience and knowledge on how to best protect and promote your idea.

Preregistration is required for each session. Call 596-7977 or visit the library’s Web site at www.tulsalibrary.org to register or for more information about “Day of Innovation and Invention.”