Book, writing and gaming clubs for teens at Mentor Public Library

Kerri decorates cookies during the Teen Holiday Party at Mentor Public Library.

Some teens only come to the library when they have schoolwork to do. They have no idea how much they're missing out on.

Mentor Public Library has clubs for young writers, readers and even gamers. And there's always room for more!

Our Write On Club meets on the third Monday of every month at our Main Branch.

They use different writing prompts and brainteasers to hone their writing skills. Any teen who wants to join their ranks is welcome. It's a fun, supportive place to practice and improve your writing with other teens who are doing the same thing.

Our next meeting is 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21, at our Main Branch. You can register for it on Mentor Library’s website.

All teen writers are welcome at our Write On Club.

Meanwhile, our Teen Book Club discusses the best of YA fiction from authors like John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Ransom Riggs and more. Its next meeting is Saturday, Jan. 2, at our Lake Branch.

We'll talk about Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. You can pick up a copy at the Lake Branch, if you want to join us.

Finally, this Wednesday (Dec. 16,) we're hosting our monthly Clashing Controllers tournament at our Lake Branch.

Teens can compete in Super Smash Bros, Mario Kart and other games. We provide the game and the snacks. You just bring the skills.

For more teen programs at Mentor Public Library, check out our online event calendar.

You don't have to sign up for Clashing Controllers. Just show up and get your game on.

Video-game tournaments for kids and teens during International Games Day at Mentor Library

Mentor Library is hosting Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros tournaments on International Games Day.

Kids who come to Mentor Library on Saturday, Nov. 21, better be ready to play because it's International Games Day.

To celebrate, our Main Branch is hosting not one but two video-game tournaments that day.

Kids ages six to 12 can play in our Mario Kart tournament, which begins at noon.

Teens can compete in our international Super Smash Bros tournament from 2 to 4 p.m. One lucky gamer will even win a $25 gift card to Game Stop.

Both tournaments are free to play in. However, we ask that you register beforehand. You can sign up on Mentor Library's website—specifically at this link for Mario Kart and here for Super Smash Bros—or by calling 440-255-8811.

Want more? Mentor Library also has a monthly video-game tournament called Clashing Controllers at its Lake Branch. The next tourney is 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

By the way gamers, Mentor Library circulates games for PlayStation, Xbox and Wii consoles, as well. Feel free to check them out.

Get in the game with Clashing Controllers

Teens face off in the finals of our Mario Kart 8 tournament during our last Clashing Controllers session.

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to actually share the room with people I'm gaming with (or against.)

Don't get me wrong. Online gaming is incredible, but I like to see the look on someone's face when my Charizard burns their, well, face off.

If you're game, our next Clashing Controllers tournament is 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, July 15, at Mentor Library's Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

We’ll be playing Super Smash Bros Wii U and you’re invited.

There's no buy-in or anything like that. We bring the console, game and snacks. You just need to show up and play.

If you win, you get bragging rights and a Certificate of Awesomeness.

While you’re here, you can sign up for summer reading too.

For every book you read or library program you attend between now and Aug. 1, you get a raffle ticket and a chance to win cool prizes like Captains Tickets or gift cards to Panera, Target, Amazon and more. You can even register online.

So if you’re going to play video games, you might as well play with friends and possibly win something for playing.

See you at the library.

Ahh, to live in a world where Mega Man, Sonic and Mario can just fight it out over who's the best, as opposed to just arguing about it over the lunch table.

Are you game for Clashing Controllers?

Teens face off in the finals of our Mario Kart 8 tournament.

On the third Wednesday of every month, teens gather at our Lake Branch to face off in Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and other games.

We call it Clashing Controllers, and we want to know if you're game enough to join in.

You don't have to be a hardcore gamer to have fun (though we get a few of those too.) All you need is to want to have a good time.

It's all in good fun until someone uses a blue shell.

The next Clashing Controllers session starts at 6:30 p.m. on, Wednesday, July 15. We'll be playing Super Smash Bros and you're invited.

While you're here, you can sign up for summer reading too.

For every book you read or library program you attend between now and Aug. 1, you get a raffle ticket and a chance to win cool prizes like Captains Tickets or gift cards to Panera, Target, Amazon and more.

You can even register online.

So if you're going to play video games, you might as well play with friends and possibly win something for playing.

See you at the library. We'll save a spot for you.

Earn your own Certificate of Awesomeness at Clashing Controllers.