Council discusses names for spaces in new South Broken Arrow library

Chief Jeremy Moore introduced a request from the Tulsa City-County Library System to name three interior/outdoor spaces in the planned South Broken Arrow library. Staff asked the council for candidate names so the library could proceed before a planned groundbreaking next month. Councilors suggested a mix of historic and contemporary options to reflect community fundraising and educational contributions.

Councilors recommended Finney Lou Owenby (the city's early female mayor and longtime library advocate) for one space, Jan Simmons Collins (educator and children's‑book author) for the educational/homeschool room, and Vice Mayor Parks for the children's outdoor play area; another councilor recommended Farhad de Rogan and other contemporary contributors for recognition in the makerspace. The council moved and seconded the naming recommendation so staff could notify the library prior to its groundbreaking.

Council members emphasized honoring local contributors and historical figures who advanced library services and civic engagement. Staff said the library hopes to finalize names before the groundbreaking and will work with the council's consensus.