Jazz Appreciation Month at MPL

We realize it's almost over, but we couldn't let April pass without acknowledging Jazz Appreciation Month.

Jazz, swing, bebop, cakewalk, even the blues that birthed it (along with spirituals and African polyrhythms)—whatever you may call the music—is bigger than one blog post. But if you're new to jazz, hopefully we can provide some sort of introduction; and if you're an old cat, perhaps we can introduce you to something new.

Getting started

Better people than us have provided better introductions to jazz: Ken Burns, Bob Blumenthal and Herman Leonard just to start. (By the way, all these links lead you to books, music and films that you can check out for free from Mentor Public Library.)

So let's talk about the music and its early practitioners. The earliest jazz music came out of New Orleans: pianists like Jelly Roll Morton, clarinetists like Sidney Bechet, and trumpeters like Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong.

Some modern musicians still make jazz in the style of the old Hot 5s and 7s, for example, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Back then, jazz was mostly dance music: the emphasis was on syncopated rhythms, strong melodies and catchy improvisations. The harmonies and rhythms were not yet as complicated as they would become during the bebop era.

Big Bands

What started as the realm of solo pianists and small groups grew until bandleaders had entire sections of brass, woodwinds, percussion and sometimes even strings at their disposals.

Composers like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman and Buddy Rich took the music to new places, incorporating aspects of classical, world, Broadway and even rock 'n roll into their songs. Meanwhile, the Gershwins were using jazz as the basis to create some of the most memorable show tunes of all time.

The Big Bands were often accompanied by singers who became just as (or more) famous in their own right: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra and more. (That's right. Ol' Blue Eyes got his start singing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.)

When we think of jazz, we tend to think of this era—with its Dukes and Counts and Cabs. You could argue that jazz would get more complicated and even more popular, but it would never be bigger.

Bebop

Musical genres tend to evolve overtime. The Beatles may have been influenced by the 1, 4, 5 chord changes of the blues, but they grew it into a wall of sound. Kanye West may work with Rick Rubin, but the final product is going to sound a lot more complicated "My Adidas."

Jazz also evolved from the swing of Jelly Roll to a dense jungle of chord changes, overlapping improvisations and unorthodox (sometimes dissonant) harmonies. This jungle's name was bebop.

Thelonious Monk would integrate seemingly atonal and arrhythmic strikes in his arrangement. John Coltrane and Miles Davis would use modal (as opposed to diatonic) harmonies in their solos and arrangements. Charles Mingus would take the lessons of Ellington and stretch them into suites depicting anger, depression and contemplation.

Jazz grew from dance music to almost anything you could imagine sonically.

Fusion

Let's be honest. Genres are arbitrary things. Whether you're bluegrass or blues, bebop or hip-hop, you're still using the same 13 notes. So it's unsurprising, natural even, for genres to meld.

Just like the Gershwins combined jazz and classical, Weather Report would fuse jazz and funk, Miles Davis would combine bebop and hip-hop and Herbie Hancock would mix everything with everything.

It's unsurprising that jazz would fuse with other genres. After all, one of its patron saints—Duke Ellington—was influenced by everything from Tchaikovsky to the music of Asia

Modern

So what is jazz today? Is it swing? Big band? Bebop? Fusion?

It's all of that and more.

Dr. John is keeping the New Orleans sound strong, Branford Marsalis performs a lovely Coltrane homage, and Takuya Kuroda uses hip-hop breakbeats in his percussion on his newest album, Rising Son.

Jazz has more faces than a hydra, and it's adding more all the time.

But enough of me talking. I suspect you'd rather listen to some music.

Studio MPL kids make their own version of Munch's 'Scream'

Colin creates his own version of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" during Studio MPL on Monday.

Studio MPL—Mentor Library’s art club for kids—looked to painter Edvard Munch for inspiration last Monday.

Munch is best known for his Expressionist painting, The Scream. Using Much's painting as a reference point, the kids drew their own emotions or (if they couldn't decide which emotion to draw) made their own versions of The Scream.


The young artists used crayons, colored pencils, markers and chalk—whatever best expressed their feelings.

Gavyn uses markers to express her emotions.

Every month, the kids take on a new art project. They’ve created imaginary friends, made sun catchers, painted sunsets, weaved and even garnered inspiration from Jackson Pollock.

Studio MPL meets on the third Monday of each month. If your kid likes art—any kind of art—they can join the fun!

Next month’s session will be May 18 at our Main Branch. You can register for it here.

For more photos from Studio MPL, check out our Facebook page. For more information on programs and events for children, teens and adults at Mentor Public Library, visit our online event calendar.

Mya mulls over what to draw during Studio MPL.

Enjoy Free Comic Book Day at Mentor Library

If your kids love reading, writing or drawing comics, then they'll probably love our Comics Club.

Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday! Kids can come to Mentor Library's Main Branch and get new, free issues from all the top comics publishers—Marvel, DC, Boom, Bongo, Image and more. (The comics have been donated by our friends at Comics & Friends!)

You may be confused and wondering, "Aren't all of the comics at Mentor Library free?" And, yes, we have thousands of comics and graphic novels that you can check out without cost.

But Free Comic Book day is a special, once-a-year event where kids can read new stories from all kinds writers and artists—not just superheroes either. It's a fun way to expand your horizons without having to spend any cash.

So drop by and pick up some comics while the supply lasts. (And, once more, because we can't say it enough, thanks to Comics & Friends!)

Our Comics Club doesn't just read and talk about comics. We write and draw our own sequential art, as well.

If your kid loves comics, then they'll probably love our Comics Club too.

Our Comics Club is for any 8- through 12-year-old who likes to read, talk about, or draw sequential art. (Not just superheroes either. We love everything from Amelia Rules to Batman to Bone.)

Our Comic Club meets from 7 to 8 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at our Main Branch. Our next meeting is May 5.

At a typical meeting, the kids talk about a special theme. Then we introduce the kids to graphic novels and comics that can be found in the library’s collection.

We close out each meeting with free time for the kids to draw or read.

To register a child for the Comics Club, call the library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 221.

Investment Basics: Where to Start

Fill that piggy bank by investing.

Even the least money savvy of us have a vague appreciation of investing. It seems like a good idea in the way that it would be better to eat more vegetables or learn a second language.

But investing can be intimidating. What if you make a bad investment and lose your savings? What's the difference between investing and putting your money in a 401(k) or IRA?

To answer questions, the Society for Financial Awareness provided an introduction to investing as part of Money Smart Week at Mentor Public Library.

Here is some of the information and advice they shared:

Why invest?

There's more than one reason to invest. First, I assume you want to retire some day. Wise investments can hasten that day.

Moreover, you know how inflation works. If inflation rises three percent each year, then $200,000 today will have the purchasing power of $59,142 in 40 years. In other words, your money will be worth less money.

Through the power of compound interest, investment does the opposite of that. It makes your money worth more money.

When you invest, you don't just earn money from your initial investment, the interest from your investment also accrues interest. This can really add up over time. If you invest $5,000 a year for 30 years and see a six percent annual growth rate, then you'll make $395,291—more than twice what you would have if you just stored that money in shoe boxes beneath your bed.

No less a mind than Albert Einstein said, "The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest." And, yes, we realize his tongue was in his cheek when he said that; but, still, if you want to harness that powerful force, you need to learn about investing

The sooner the better

The most important thing about investing (or establishing any kind of savings) is that you don't want to hesitate.

The sooner you begin, the more time your investments have to grow. Playing "catch up" later can be difficult and expensive.

Identify goals and risk tolerance

What are you saving for? Retirement? Your kids' college? Maybe a new car?

Your investment goals (long term versus short term) affect your time horizons.

In general, the longer your investment horizon, the more potentially high-reward risks you can afford to take. After all, if you don't plan to retire for 30 years, then you have plenty of time to recover from losses.

There's often a risk-reward tradeoff. The higher the possible payoff, the larger the potential losses. The spectrum of low-risk/low-return to high-risk/high-return goes something like this: Treasury bills, CDs, government bonds, corporate bonds, preferred stock, common stock and, finally, options and futures present the highest risk and possible rewards.

Know the different types of investments

There are different types of investments: cash alternatives, bonds, stocks, funds, and more. (However, 401(k)s and IRAs are not investments. They're tax-advantaged vehicles that hold individual investments.)

Here's a break down of the different options and there advantages.

1. Cash alternatives are low risk, short term and relatively liquid. Examples include CDs, money market deposit accounts and mutual funds, and U.S. Treasury Bills.

The potential return is low enough that they may not keep up with inflation, but the earnings are predictable and there's little risk to the principal.

2. Bonds are a loan to a government or corporation. The interest is typically paid at regular intervals. They can be traded like other securities.

The risks include the value of the bond fluctuating with interest rates and, of course, default. And the potential returns are lower than, say, stocks.

However, the risks are also lower than in the stock markets and the income is both predictable and typically higher than cash alternatives.

3. Shares of stocks represent an ownership position in a business. The percentage of a business you own determines your share in its profits and losses. Your shares of stock can ultimately be sold for a loss or a gain.

Within stocks there are a lot of categories: common versus preferred; small, mid or large cap. It helps to have a professional to guide you.

Stocks historically have provided the highest long-term total returns. They can provide income through dividends as well as capital appreciation. However, market volatility or poor company performance create a greater risk to your principal.

Consequently, stocks might not be appropriate for short-term investments or goals.

4. Mutual funds are when your money is pooled with that of other investors. The fund invests for you according to a stated investment strategy, and you own a portion of the securities held by the fund. (In other words, your investment is automatically and instantly diversified.)

Mutual funds fall all along the risk-reward spectrum. Before you invest in a fund, you should consider its objectives, risks, charges and expenses to make certain its goals coincide with your own.

The advantages of investing in mutual funds: liquidity, as well as diversification and professional management of your investments. The disadvantages: fund fees and expenses, tax inefficiencies and value fluctuations.

Picking a professional

We've just covered the basics here, and it can already seem overwhelming.

Frankly, when you're talking about your financial future, it helps to have a professional's insight and experience. A financial professional can help you determine your investment goals, timelines and risk tolerances. They can also help select specific investments, manage, monitor and modify your portfolio.

But how do you pick a financial professional that's right for you?

Actually, that one's easy.

When you talk to a financial professional, ask them questions. Ask them about your different options. If you don't understand or aren't satisfied by their answers, keep looking for the right person.

Click here for more information from our Money Smart programs.

All smiles and sunshine at the April Showers story time

Josephine makes a cotton-ball cloud during Mentor Library's April Showers story time.

For as much snow and cold as we received this summer, a little rain isn't a problem; so we had a special April Showers story time on Monday at our Main Branch.

First, we read books with the children: Little Cloud; Tap Tap Boom Boom; and The Deep Deep Puddle.

Then, we made thematically appropriate crafts—cotton-ball clouds and lightning bolts.

Finally, we made a tasty "mud" snack with Oreos and chocolate pudding.

Sierra tries to decide how to decorate her lightning bolt.

Mentor Library has story times for all ages of kids at all three of our branches.

They include songs, crafts and, of course, reading! (Occasionally, they even include a snack.)

All of our story times are free and open to the public. However, a few of them require registration because of limited spaces.

To see what story times are the best fit for your family, check out our online event calendar.

Join in the Mentor Library story times.

For more photos from our April Showers story time, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Party like a princess at Mentor Library's Princess Tea Party

Join the fun at Mentor Library's Princess Tea on Saturday, May 2.

Every year on the Saturday before Mother's Day, we throw a tea party for kids at our Main Branch. And each year we try to make it bigger and better than the year before.

But how do you top a tea party that was practically perfect in every way?

Party like a princess. That's how.

We're hosting a Princess Tea Party at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at our Main Branch.

Kids will make hennins (those conical princess hats) and mirrors (so they can ask who's the fairest,) as well as play princess bingo. They'll even see a puppet show!

The party is for children ages five and older. Each family should have one adult accompany their child to the party (but not more than one adult. We want to leave as much room for kids as possible.) And each person should bring their own teacup.

It’s always a lot of fun; but the room tends to fill up quickly, so you’ll need to register soon to make sure there’s space for you and your child.

See you at the party!

Celebrate Earth Day with MPL & the City of Mentor

Going green is easier than you think. You don't have to live in a solar-powered earth berm to make a difference.

It can be as simple as sorting your recyclables, having a rain barrel or planting a backyard garden.

You can learn more fun and helpful ways to go green during the city of Mentor's Earth Day celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 24, at Wildwood Cultural Center.

You can get free tree seedlings and build a rain barrel. There will be crafts and games for kids, as well.

And Mentor Public Library will be there with free vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seeds that you can check out from our Seed Library. You can also grab a gardening book or two from our Pop-Up Library.

And the whole shebang is free for you and your family, so come see us this Friday!

Read for the Roses during Derby Days at Mentor Library

Read for the Roses at Mentor Library and you can win fun prizes.

It's still two weeks away but we're already excited for the Kentucky Derby, and there are two ways you can join in the fun at Mentor Library.

First, you can Read for the Roses. We have displays filled with books about the Kentucky Derby, horses, the state of Kentucky and other apropos themes in our adult and children's departments at our Main Branch. These items all have raffle tickets in them. If you check one of them out, you can come to the Circulation Desk to complete the ticket and drop it in our raffle box.

The raffle will run until the day of the race, Saturday, May 2. We'll pick the winners on May 3 and they will receive gift cards from stores around town.

We're also encouraging patrons to don their finest Derby hats! As you probably already know, wearing a hat at Churchill Downs is thought to bring good luck. So from Thursday, April 30, through Saturday, May 2, you're all encouraged to wear your fanciest, favorite or most fun hat in honor of the Kentucky Derby tradition.

Everyone who wears a Derby hat can receive a coupon at our Circulation Desk for our next book sale at the Read House.

So join in the fun and good luck at the races!

Where do you want Mentor Library to pop up next?

Kids show off their new books during a Pop-Up Library at Hopkins Elementary last week.

We celebrated National Library Week—which, by the way, was last week—by bringing out our Pop-Up Library.

If you haven't seen our Pop-Up Library yet, it's a small trailer that we fill with donated books and bring them to wherever you are.

Just last week we gave away more than 800 books at Mentor High School, Eleanor Garfield Park, Mentor Senior Center, Altercare, James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor-on-the-Lake City Hall, Deepwood's Vocational Guidance Center, and Hopkins Elementary.

Our Pop-Up, ready for readers at Eleanor Garfield Park

The books are free to keep forever. You don’t need a library card or to return them to one of our branches. (If you like, you can drop the book off in one of our Little Free Libraries when you’re finished.)

And we're not done. You'll be seeing our Pop-Up Library all around Mentor and Mentor-on-the-Lake this spring and summer.

If you want us to bring our Pop-Up Library to your school, church or workplace, email our community outreach coordinator at jason.lea@mentorpl.org.

A Deepwood client picks through the collection in the Pop-Up Library.

Puppy love at the library

Claire and Ruckus share a book during Paws to Read at Mentor Library.

I know I've written about our Paws to Read program, but I'm not missing any opportunities to share photos of kids reading to dogs. It's beyond cute. It's cute2!

Paws to Read pairs young readers (between the ages of six and 12 years old) with therapy dogs, who listen to the children as they read.

If your child can read independently but doesn’t like to do it in front of other people, you might try signing them up for Paws to Read. The program works well for dog lovers, but it’s also helped some kids who are scared of dogs get over their phobia.

Sam scratches Jazzy's stomach as he reads to her.

Registration for the May sessions start May 6. There will be two 30-minute sessions on May 20; one beginning at 6:30 p.m., the next at 7 p.m. We only have so many therapy dogs; so, unfortunately, there’s a limit on how many kids can participate each month.

Furthermore, those spots tend to fill up quickly, so contact the children’s department at Mentor Public Library soon if you think you child could benefit from Paws to Read.

For more information on Paws to Read and other children’s programs at Mentor Public Library call (440) 255-8811 ext. 221.

There is often a waiting list for the program once registration begins.

Dakota and Noni ask Marvin K. Mooney if he'll please go now.

For more photos from Paws to Read, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

How Mentor Library celebrates spring in Lake County

Our Pop-Up Library will be popping up all over the place now that the weather's warmer.

Is it finally over? The subzero temperatures? The freezing wind? The snow? (So much snow.)

Is winter truly gone?

It must be because the sun is out, and some plants have even dared to bloom.

Here are some of our favorite things to do during springtime in Lake County:

1. Get planting

Maybe you're already a certifiable green thumb. Maybe you've never grown anything except dandelions. Either way, we're about to make gardening a little easier for you.

Mentor Library just launched a new seed library.

Here’s how it works. Anyone with a MPL card in good standing can check out seeds from the library for their own garden. The library’s collection already includes more than 100 varieties of seed, including herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruit.

People can check out as many as 15 types of seed per year.

2. Read outside

We are blessed with a plethora of lovely parks—city, county, state and even national parks.

There are few things we enjoy more than a good book in a beautiful place. Some of our favorite places to read outdoors include Wildwood Cultural Center & Park, Squire’s Castle, Mentor Beach Park, James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Eleanor Garfield Park and the Read House next door to our Main Branch.

Visit them sometime on a quiet afternoon or even during your lunch break. And if you need reading material, we can help.

3. Get out there
We're not blessed with a surfeit of sunshine in Northeast Ohio; so, when we get a little glimmer, we need to make the most of it.

That's why this spring and summer, you're going to see us all around the community. We'll be bringing our Pop-Up Library to parks, schools and other places all around Mentor and Mentor-on-the-Lake. Whenever you see it, feel free to grab a book or two.

The books are free to keep forever. You don't need to return them to the library. If you like, you can drop the book off in one of our Little Free Libraries when you're finished.

You'll also see our Flash Libraries during the city of Mentor's summer concert series and farmers markets, as well as Concord Community Days. So when you see us out there, feel free to say hello and (of course) get yourself or your kids something to read.

Skipper from the Lake County Captains checks out a book during one of  our Flash Libraries.

Meeting the eagles from Mentor Marsh

Beck Donaldson, a naturalist from the Mentor Marsh, talks to kids at our Headlands Branch about the bald eagles who live in Mentor Marsh.

Naturalist Becky Donaldson wasn't able to bring the actual bald eagles who nest in Mentor Marsh with her when she visited our Headlands Branch this Saturday, but she was able to bring a few interesting artifacts (including a skull) and her vast knowledge of Lake County's most famous raptors.

Here are just some fun facts that we learned Saturday:

• Did you know that there were as few as four nesting bald eagles in Ohio in the 1970s? There are now probably more than that just in Lake County. (We think there are six or seven in Lake County, but it's difficult to say for sure because some are on private property.)
• The eagle pair moved into Mentor Marsh in 2010 when they took on an abandoned redwing hawk nest. Since then, they've raised (an estimated) four eaglets, including one this year.
• Bald eagles mate for life, usually only splitting if one of them disappears or dies. However, eagle pairs that have failed to breed after multiple tries may go their separate ways.
• Bald eagle nests can be up to 13 feet deep, eight feed wide, and weigh as much as one ton.
• They need a lot of space because their typical wingspan is between six and 7.5 feet.
• Bald eagles are opportunistic carnivores, meaning they'll eat whatever's available. That includes other birds, mammals and even roadkill; but fish make for most of their meals.
• Bald eagles can fly as fast as 43 miles per hour.



Kids practice flapping their wings at Mentor Library's Headlands Branch.

To learn more about bald eagles, in general, and the nesting pair that lives near us, come to Mentor Marsh's Bald Eagle Fest from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 3.

You can help build a mock eagle nest and meet some of the marsh's animal ambassadors.

You can also take a guided hike of the Marsh's bald eagle nest at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. The 2-mile hike is on unimproved and sometimes muddy trails, so be ready for weather. Spotting scopes will be provided; but you can bring your own binoculars, if you prefer.

Also, you need to make a reservation if you want to go on one of the nest hikes. You can make reservations by calling 440-257-0777, emailing rdonalds@cmnh.org, or messaging the Mentor Marsh Facebook page.

Peyton checks out a replica bald eagle skull.

Of course, you can also learn about eagles by checking out a book or documentary from Mentor Library.

There are also a few fun raptor nest webcams you can watch, if you want to see these amazing birds in their natural habitat.

These eagles in Hanover, PA, have a pair of eaglets; these eagles in Iowa have three nestlings; and, for some local raptors, these peregrine falcons in Cleveland atop the Terminal Tower have five eggs waiting to hatch.

Gabriel compares his wingspan to a bald eagle.

Come to MPL's Flash Library during the Throwback to Giveback Health Fair this Saturday

Look for Mentor Library at the Throwback to Giveback Health Fair this Saturday at Captains Stadium.

Mentor Library is having one of its Flash Libraries during the Throwback to Giveback Health Fair & Fun Run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, April 11, at Classic Park.

We'll be giving away free books on health, exercise and diet. Drop by if you want a free book and information on ways to get healthier. (You can get a library card too, if you want.)

The health fair is organized by Leadership Lake County's Junior Leadership Program.

It will begin with a Fun Run led by the Captain's mascot, Skipper. The health fair will also feature a DJ, Zumba, dance contests, face painting, mini golf, a healthy snack station and much more.

All proceeds raised from the event will be donated to St. James Soup Kitchen in Painesville to buy necessary kitchen equipment so it can provide food for local people in need. (They serve more than 23,000 meals a year to people who need it.)

Admission to health fair is free, and its vendors include Big Brothers Big Sisters NEO, Crossroads, American Heart Association and more.

See you there!

Discover More About Where You Live: The Bald Eagles in Mentor Marsh

Did you know there are bald eagles nesting in Mentor Marsh?

Did you know that more than 200 kinds of birds live in Mentor Marsh? That includes the blue-winged teal, yellow warbler, American wigeon, gadwall, heron, American black duck, red-winged blackbirds, Northern shoveler and hooded merganser.

And bald eagles.

Yes, that's right. There are a pair of nesting bald eagles just a few miles from your home (presuming you live in or near Mentor, Ohio.)

If you want to learn more about these incredible animals, come to our Headlands Branch at 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 11, for the latest program in our Where You Live series. Mentor Marsh Naturalist Rebecca Donaldson will offer all kinds of facts about the bald eagles in our backyard. (You can register for it here.)

The Where You Live series is our way of letting you know more about the amazing natural history of Lake County. We've talked about everything from the Morton salt mines to the other denizens of Mentor Marsh.

Come join us this Saturday for an amazing program!

You can visit our Facebook page for fun photos from library programs. You can also check outMentor Marsh’s Facebook page for some beautiful snapshots, if you’d like.

Taking a bite out of the Edible Book Contest

The Friends of the Mentor Public Library hosted an Edible Books contest Saturday. About 20 entries—dishes evoking everything from The Color Purple to Everybody Poops—competed for votes.

Here are a few of our favorites. For more, check out Mentor Library's Facebook page.

This cake may have been delicious, but I was too scared to find out.

"Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee?" Get it? Get it? You got it.

Look at the cover of "Creepy Carrots" to see just how perfectly Lisa recreated it with cookies.

This beautiful version of "Rechenka's Eggs" was made by a fourth grader, Chloe.

This cake is still a more faithful depiction of "The Scarlet Letter" than that movie with Demi Moore.

It takes a brave person to eat an "Everybody Poops" cake.

American Girl Book Club meets Josefina and makes guacamole

The young ladies of our American Girl Book Club made guacamole when they met Josefina Wednesday.

Our American Girl Book Club always make a fun craft when they get together. They've made kites, rag dolls, dreamcatchers and more, while talking about classic American Girl books.

But this time, they got a little messy.

This week, they met Josefina, a young girl who grew up in New Mexico while it was still under Mexican rule.

Libby carefully scoops the avocado into the bowl.

The girls also learned a little about Josefina's culture by making guacamole. They mashed and mixed the avocado themselves.

When they were finished, they even had time to make God's-Eyes crafts for themselves and maracas for their dolls.

Our American Girl Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a different American Girl book and make a new craft.

If you have a child who likes the American Girl books or dolls, then he or she can join the fun. They can even bring their dolls with them, if they like. (Of course, the dolls aren’t required.)

Our next meeting is 4 p.m. on May 6 in the children’s section of our Main Branch on Mentor Avenue. The girls will be meeting Marie-Grace and Cecile.

You can register your child for the book club on our web site or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 221.

It looks like the girls enjoyed their craft.

For more photos, check out Mentor Library's Facebook page.

9 Tips for waking up your garden from the Master Gardeners

The snow is gone. The ground is thawing. We finally, finally can start working outside.

The Master Gardeners visited Mentor Library's Main Branch on Wednesday and offered several tips on how to properly wake your garden.

1. Walk your garden

Step one is to get out there. See what needs to be done. Pull early weeds, check for winter damage, and plan how you want to use your available space.

2. Dealing with winter damage

If one of your plants is leaning, it may not need to be staked. Nature has a way of righting itself. However, if staking is necessary, be gentle. For broken branches, prune back to the next branch or node. If any of your plants have been heaved by the frozen ground, replant them at ground level.

3. Clean up

Cut your ornamental grasses back to six to 12 inches; remove old leaves from your perennials, as well as any dead plant material; and cut back any overgrown plants.

4. Pruning

No matter how overgrown a plant is, don't prune off more than 25 percent of it. Remove old and broken branches first. (Once again, cut back to the next branch or node.) If a plant is very overgrown, you have need to prune it over multiple seasons.

5. Lawn care

Sew seed as soon as the soil is workable. You'll want to wait until there's adequate moisture and the soil is about 50 degrees F. By the way, don't apply any pre-emergent herbicides if you're seeding or reseeding your lawn. However, if you're not seeding, you'll want to apply your pre-emergent herbicide in early April.

6. Fertilizing your lawn

If you applied fertilizer in the fall, you only need one application in either late April or early May. If you didn't, then you'll want two applications: one in late April, one in late May. The Master Gardener recommends slow-release fertilizer.

7. Mowing your lawn

Only cut a third of the height from your lawn at any given time. Any more than that will damage the plants.

8. Chemicals and herbicides

Get a soil test before you add anything to your soil. They're inexpensive and profoundly helpful. Don't use any chemical you don't need. You're just poisoning your soil and wasting your money.

9. Planting

In spring, you'll want to plant your bulbs, as well as some of your annual, perennials and flowering trees. And, whenever and whatever you plant, make sure to follow package instructions.

For more tips, check out the Master Gardeners website or the Lake County OSU Extension Office page. For specific advice, call the Master Gardeners advice line between 9 and 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays: (440) 350-2582.

Finally, for all your green thumbs, Mentor Library launched a seed library on April 1.

Anyone with a MPL card in good standing can check out seeds from the library for their own garden. The library’s collection already includes more than 100 varieties of seed, including herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruit.

People can check out as many as 15 types of seed per year.

So let's get out there, and help Mentor grow.

Stretch your limits with a little yoga at Mentor Library

Jessica Humphrey demonstrates some chair yoga moves during a Beginners Yoga class at Mentor Library.

You don’t need to be able to do a handstand or reach your leg behind your head to try yoga.

If you can sit in a chair and breathe, then you can start to derive the benefits of yoga. And what do those benefits include? Everything from reduced stress and boosted immunity to weight loss and stronger muscles.

Jessica Humphrey from Awaken Yoga in Mentor visited our Main Branch for a free Beginners Yoga class on Tuesday. She taught moves that reduce stress, while increasing mindfulness and flexibility—many of which people could do from their chairs.

We'll be hosting two more free yoga classes at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, April 7 and 14, at our Main Branch. There are only a few spots open for either; so, if you want to register for them, you'll need to do so quickly.

Also, Awaken Yoga is one of our Core Card partners. So you can save money on classes there, as well. If you pay for a 5-class package with Awaken Yoga, you get the sixth class for free—just because you have a Mentor Library card.

We also have several books and DVDs about yoga that you can check out, if you'd like.

Humphrey demonstrates seated Cat & Cow poses during her class.