518 W. Main Street
Henryetta, OK 74437
P:918-652-7377 F:918-652-2796
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm • Saturday 10:00am-1:00pm

Our literacy council is working in cooperation with the Okmulgee County Literacy Task Force to coordinate efforts of all literacy programs in the county. Further activities and decisions will be placed on the website.

"Reading Program Pays Off"

By Chelsea C. Cook
Henryetta Daily Free-Lance Staff

"I did it so I could read my Bible better," Betty Eslick of Henryetta said about completing the reading program at the Henryetta Public Library.

Some people have more determination than others. This is a fact that is proven almost daily and Eslick is one of the people who prove this fact.

As a 13 year-old fifth grade student, Eslick's parents removed her from school. She didn't have proper reading skills to carry her forward with the rest of her life. She said she stayed at home and learned how to be a homemaker. "I learned how to take care of kids, cook, sweep, and sew, and things like that. My mother taught me that," Eslick said.

Eslick now has something of which she is extremely proud. She has a large certificate proving she learned how to read. Henryetta Public Library has an adult literacy program where people teach people to read. Reading is a necessary part of our society and this is one of the ways the library has of giving back to society. Eslick thinks she got one of the best of these.

"Becky Collett was my tutor. I had another one at first, but Becky helped me finish. She was fantastic!," Eslick said.

"My husband said I ought to try it," Eslick said. "I thought about it and then called them up. They gave me a tutor."

Collett helped Eslick Thursdays and Tuesdays for two years and they got through four books in the reading series. They could not meet for every scheduled lesson as other adult commitments sometimes interfered. The two started their lessons at 10 a.m. each day they could. Collett also had another job.

Eslick has a certificate of completion for each book in the series. She finished the program in December and was awarded a large certificate of completion in January. "I didn't know I would get a big certificate," Eslick said. She plans on displaying all of them on her wall at home. "I got the little ones each time, but I didn't know I'd get a big one."

It was Coleman's idea for Eslick to tell the community that she had completed the program. "I think this may help someone else do it", she explained. "Maybe my graduating will make someone say, 'If she can do it, I can do it'."

"I did it so I could read my Bible better," she said proudly. "I don't go to church, I am a Christian though."

The series is the Lubach Reading series and is made for adults who need some help with their reading. People can sign up for this program by calling the Henryetta Public Library at (918) 652-7377, by going by and asking for Ruby Wesson, or e-mailing the Library.

There is one Henryetta lady who would enthusiastically encourage anyone to make use of this free program.