A 'mini' party with mega fun at Mentor Library

Lynn laughs it up with her doll, Sarah, during the American Girl party at Mentor Library on Valentine's Day.

About half of the guests at Mentor Library's Valentine's Day party were only 18 inches tall. They were, after all, American Girl dolls.

But their short stature fit the party's pastiche. The kids who came to our party Saturday played mini-games, made tiny clothes for their dolls and snacked on mini pizzas.

The only thing that wasn't 'mini' at this party was the fun.

Olivia made a party hat and horn for her American girl doll, Samantha.

The girls got to decorate their dolls for the party, making them tiny party horns—yes, that's apparently what you call those little blower things—and hats.

And the snacks may have been for the kids, but they were still delightfully lilliputian. The girls made little ice cream cones by scooping ice cream into Bugles and tiny cakes with cookies and frosting.

The girls made tiny cakes for their dolls using cookies and frosting.

If your kid (or kids) love American Girl, we have a club dedicated to their books.

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. (We've made everything from rag dolls to dreamcatchers to guacamole.)

Our next meeting is 4 p.m. on March. 4 in the children’s section of our Main Branch on Mentor Avenue. The girls will be meeting Caroline.

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

Party like an American Girl.

For more photos from our American Girl party, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Our Favorite Love Stories for Valentine's Day

Princess Bride is always a good answer regardless of what the question is.

Valentine's Day is this Saturday. (Consider that your last warning if you still need to buy a gift.) If you're still looking for something for your kids to do that day, we have three recommendations.

To coincide with the season, we polled our coworkers and asked them, "What is your favorite love story?" The answers came from books, movies, songs and even a ballet.

Feel free to let us know your favorites too:

• Denise from Circulation love The Ghost & Mrs. Muir
• Mary P. from Reference loves Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
• Darlene, our Senior Resources Coordinator, loves Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
• Lynn, our Executive Director, loves High Fidelity and Ondine
• Mary R. from Tech Services loves Love Story
• Tiffany from Tech Services loves Homeward Bound
• Julie from Tech Services loves Swan Lake
• Evan from Facilities loves "Overjoyed" by Matchbox 20
• Colleen from Finance loves "They Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra
• Kelly from Finance loves Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud"
• Bob from Facilities loves Journey's "Don't Stop Believing"
• Ed from IT loves Love Actually
• Judy from Circulation loves Princess Bride
• Lisa P. from Circulation loves Horses Never Lie About Love by Jana Harris
• Meredith from Reference loves Walk the Line and The Man Called Cash (basically anything about Johnny Cash and June Carter)
• Marilyn from Children's loves Wall-E
• Lisa L. from Children's loves Somewhere in Time
• Gail from Human Resources loves About Time
• Pam from our Headlands Branch loves The Sound of Music
• Mary D. from Children's loves When Harry Met Sally
• Barb Hauer from Tech Services loves Love for Lydia
• Mary Beth from Tech Services loves Harold & Maude
• Margie from Circulation loves Gone with the Wind, The Way We Were and "How Deep Is Your Love"
• Amy from Children's loves Titanic
• Jason from Community Outreach loves The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
• Sue from Admin loves Moonstruck

Join the fun this Valentine's Day at Mentor Library

Brianna makes valentines Monday at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

We started celebrating Valentine's Day early at Mentor Library and the fun has just begun.

On Monday, kids used melted crayon shavings, heart-shaped stencils and wax paper to make their own translucent valentines Monday at our Main Branch. We also played Valentine's Day-themed games and read poetry!

Akshat and our volunteer, Sam, check out how the light transforms his translucent heart.

And the party's not over! There are still more Valentine's Day crafts to makes and candy hearts to distribute. All three of our branches have programs scheduled this Saturday, and your kids can join the fun.

Children can come to our Headlands Branch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until supplies run out) and make a pretty Valentine tea-light craft. You can also grab a cookie while you're there as part of Patron Appreciation Day.

Meanwhile, at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch, kids in kindergarten through fifth grade can play a special game of Valentine's Day Bingo and make valentines for their loved ones at 2:30 p.m.

Finally, we're having an American Girl party at our Main Branch that starts at 2 p.m.

Girls ages 6 to 12 can bring their American Girl dolls (or any other 18-inch doll) to the library for an afternoon of mini-crafts, mini-snacks and American Girl games. The only thing that won’t be “mini” is the fun!

You can register for any of these programs on our website or by calling the respective branch of Mentor Library.

Kadence makes her own valentines with melted crayon shavings and wax paper.

For more photos from our early Valentine's Day craft and other programs, visit Mentor Library’s Facebook page.

American Girl Book Club makes dolls of their own

Abby names the rag doll she made Mia during the American Girl Book Club meeting at Mentor Library.

Usually the young ladies of our American Girl Book Club bring their dolls with them to the meetings. This time, they made their own.

On Wednesday, the girls made rag dolls—just like Felicity did while growing up in Revolutionary War-era America. (Felicity was the book club's American Girl of the month.)

The girls used yarn, fabric scraps, markers and ribbon to make their own dolls and give them personality. (And they snacked on gingerbread cookies while making them.)

Sophie works on her rag doll while her American Girl doll rests.

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 daughter who likes the American Girl books or dolls, then she can join the fun. She can even bring her dolls with her, if she likes. (Of course, the dolls aren’t required.)

Our next meeting is 4 p.m. on March. 4 in the children’s section of our Main Branch on Mentor Avenue. The girls will be meeting Caroline.

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

Giselle and Lynn pick which markers they want to use to draw their dolls' features.

We're also having a special American Girl program at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at our Main Branch—Celebrate the American Girl Way.

Girls ages 6 to 12 can bring their American Girl dolls (or any other 18-inch doll) to the library for an afternoon of mini-crafts, mini-snacks and American Girl games. The only thing that won't be "mini" is the fun!

You can register for the party on our web site, as well, or call Mentor Library to sign up.

Claire snacks on a gingerbread cookie during our American Girl Book Club meeting.

For more photos from our American Girl Book Club and other programs, visit Mentor Library’s Facebook page.

Kids enjoy a spa day at Mentor Library

Rebekah and Kenzee hold hands while relaxing at the Mentor Library's spa day.

There’s nothing wrong with treating yourself on Valentine’s Day.

That was the message the Mentor Public Library had for the 50 girls who came to a special Spa Day Saturday afternoon, on Feb. 15, at the library’s Main Branch.

The girls made facial masks, decorated their own flip-flops with pieces of fleece, painted their nails and even took home bags of bath beads.

Shannon helps paint Kelley's toenails.

“More than anything, we wanted the girls to relax and have fun. But we also want to help them treat themselves well,” said Kim Sidorick, the manager of Mentor Public Library’s children’s services department. “Some people put a lot of emphasis on Valentine’s Day. We wanted to show these girls that there is nothing wrong with being your own valentine.”

Niyati listens to relaxing music while her facial scrub sets in.

For more photos from our Spa Day, visit Mentor Public Library's Facebook page.