Download & stream Grammy winners for free with Freegal

Download and stream the music of Grammy winners like Bruno Mars for free using your library card and Freegal.

Want to listen or download music by some of the Grammy winners and nominees without having to spend money on iTunes or Spotify?

Several of them have their music available on Freegal, which is free to use if you have a Mentor Public Library.

Freegal is one of the library’s digital services, which lets you download DRM-free mp3s of your favorite songs. Moreover, once you download a song, you can keep the mp3 forever. Put it on your phone, your computer, your iPod–wherever you want. It’s yours. You can download up to five songs a week.

You also get unlimited streaming, if you prefer that.

Here are some of the Grammy winners and nominees you can download now from Freegal:

Record of the Year

Winner: "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars (The rest of Mark Ronson's Grammy-nominated album, Uptown Special, is also available on Freegal.)

Best New Artist

Winner: Meghan Trainor (You can get all of Trainor's bestselling Title and her new song, "Better When I'm Dancing" from the Peanuts movie from Freegal.)

Nominee: Courtney Barnett

Best Pop Vocal Album

Nominee: Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson, which includes the Grammy-nominated "Heartbeat Song"

Best R&B Album

Winner: Black Messiah by D'Angelo and the Vanguard

Nominee: Reality Show by Jazmine Sullivan

Nominee: Forever Charlie by Charlie Wilson

Nominee: Coming Home by Leon Bridges

Best Alternative Album

Nominee: Vulnicura by Bjork

Best Rap Album

Nominee: 2014 Forest Hill Drive by J. Cole

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Winner: The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern by Tony Bennett & Bill Charlapp

Nominee: Shadows in the Night by Bob Dylan

Best Rock Performance

Nominee: "Something for Nothing" by Foo Fighters

Nominee: "Ex's & Oh's" by Elle King

Nominee: "Moaning Lisa Smile" by Wolf Alice

Best Dance Recording

Nominee: "We're All We Need" by Above & Beyond

Best Country Solo Performance

Nominee: "Little Toy Guns" by Carrie Underwood

Nominee: "Burning House" by Cam

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Winner: "Cherokee" by Christian McBride Trio

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Winner: "Wanna Be Happy?" by Kirk Franklin

Best Latin Pop

Winner: A Quien Quiera Escuchar by Ricky Martin

Best Americana Album

Winner: Something More than Free by Jason Isbell

Best Blues Album

Winner: Born to Play Guitar by Buddy Guy

Best Arrangement: Instrumental or A Capella

Winner: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Pentatonix

Best Metal Performance

Nominee: "Identity" by August Burns Red

Nominee: "512" by Lamb of God

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Nominee: Ego Death by The Internet

Nominee: Wildheart by Miguel

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Winner: For One to Love by Cécile McLorin Salvant

Best Roots Gospel Album

Winner: Still Rockin' My Soul by The Fairfield Four

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

Winner: Hasta la Raiz by Natalie Lafourcade

Winner: Dale by Pitbull

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Nominee: "Classic Man" by Jidenna

Best R&B Performance

Nominee: "If I Don't Have You" by Tamar Braxton

Nominee: "Breathing Underwater" by Hiatus Kaiyote

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

Nominee: The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter IV by Kirk Whalum

Nominee: Guitar in the Space Age by Bill Frisell

Best Regional Roots Album

Winner: Go Go Juice by Jon Cleary

If you’re having trouble with Freegal, MPL Librarian Mary Pelton made a video explaining how to navigate its web site.

Learn how to get the most out of our tablet or eReader at Mentor Public Library

Learn how to use your eReader or tablet to check out free books, movies and more at Mentor Public Library.

Did you get an eReader for Christmas or Hanukkah but have no idea to use it?

That’s OK. We can help you turn your digital doodad into a repository for the books, magazines and even movies you love.

The Mentor Public Library is holding a series of free tutorials in January where we’ll show you how to get the most out of your tablets, eReaders and smartphones.

These classes are free and open to everyone.

The first session is for those with tablets (including iPads) and smartphones. It’s 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at our Main Branch. If you want to learn how to download books and audiobooks onto your tablet or smartphone, this session is for you.

The second session is 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at our Main Branch. It’s specifically for those with Kindles and Kindle Fires. Learn how to check out eBooks and more on your new eReader.

Mentor Public Library offers a lot of digital services that are always available, even when our buildings are closed; and you can use them from the comfort of your own home.

Once you know how to do it, you’ll be able to check out library eBooks, stream audiobooks and even watch movies (depending on what kind of device you use) on your eReader, smartphone or tablet from home.

No excuses: You’re never too old or old-fashioned (or too young, for that matter,) to learn something new.

If you’re pretty tech savvy and think you can figure out how to use your eReader without too much help, we’ve posted a bunch of how-to’s for each device on our website.

But if you want a little more help, feel free to register for one of our classes. Or you can bring your device to the library and one of our reference librarians will show you how to get the most out of it.

A Last-Minute Christmas Survival Guide

The Mentor Public Library will be closed Thursday and Friday for Christmas Eve and Christmas, respectively.

We hope you have all the holidays books, movies and music you need; but, if you’re left in a lurch these next two days, we can still help. After all, our digital services are always available—even when our branches are closed.

We’ve also compiled some seasonally appropriate lists to help you navigate our digital collections.

If you’re looking for Christmas music, you can download it from Freegal or stream it on Hoopla.

If you’re looking for holidays specials that you can stream to any device, check out our Hoopla playlist.

Finally, if you’re looking for something to read, here are 12 of our favorite seasonal short stories and novels, some of which are available as eBooks via Cloud Library and OverDrive or as audiobooks on Hoopla.

And, as always, all of our digital services are free with a Mentor Public Library card.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

12 Christmas Specials You Can Watch for Free on Hoopla

In the mood to watch something seasonal but don't feel like leaving home today?

That's not a problem. With Hoopla, you can stream more than 300,000 audiobooks, movies and albums to your phone, tablet or computer anywhere at anytime. And it's free with your Mentor Public Library card.

Here are 12 different Christmas movies and TV episodes that you can start streaming now.

1. Madeline's Christmas

All lists that can include Madeline's Christmas should, including lists about holiday specials, beloved children's literature characters, and pandemics.

There's not a whole lot of plot to Madeline's Christmas (but since when has Madeline been about things happening.) Basically, Madeline must take care of her classmates who have fallen ill around holiday time.

That's right. Any cartoon character can save Christmas! Madeline saves the holiday and cures the common cold. Is there anything this adorable moppet can't do?

2. The Office (UK)—BBC Special

No, not the one with the Yankee swap. This is the original British The Office—the one that inspired the American variant and made Ricky Gervais your favorite comedian's favorite comedian.

This isn't just a Christmas special. It's also the finale. Can David Brent (Gervais as the pre-Michael Scott entertainer/boss) find a date in time for the office Christmas party? And will Dawn and Tim—the British versions of Pam and Jim, but you probably figured that out—make it work?

3. Bah Humduck! A Looney Christmas

There are hundreds of iterations on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but this is the only one with Daffy Duck.

Ergo, it must also be the best. (Though we also acknowledge the awesomeness of A Muppet Christmas Carol.)

4. A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

Speaking of the Muppets, Kermit and friends need to make it to the North Pole before Christmas so they can deliver letters to Santa in this adventure.

It's got music, merriment and Pepe the King Prawn flirting haplessly with Uma Thurman.

5. Holiday Inn

Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sing and dance their way into your heart in the musical comedy classic. Crosby plays a song and dance man who leaves showbiz to run an inn that is open only on holidays. Astaire plays his former partner and romantic rival for the affections of Marjorie Reynolds.

6. One Christmas

Another classic filled with famous performers, including Katherine Hepburn and Henry Winkler. This film, based on Truman Capote's autobiographical story, is about a young man who visits his estranged father for Christmas in 1930 in New Orleans.

7. The Small One

Usually when Disney does Christmas, it involves Mickey Mouse or Scrooge McDuck getting visited by three ghosts.

But there's neither mouse nor Claus in sight during this animated short. Instead, it tells the story of the donkey who carries a pregnant Mary to Bethlehem.

8. Yo Gabba Gabba: Very Awesome Holiday Show

Join DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee as they dance, sing and decorate the tree to prepare for the arrival of Santa Claus

9. Super Mario World, The Night Before Cave Christmas

This is, by far, the most ridiculous entry on this list. It's sillier than Sonic and Inspector Gadget saving Christmas combined.

After all, what can be more ridiculous than Mario and Luigi trying to stop King Koopa from stealing a bunch of cavemen's Christmas gifts?

10. Abbott & Costello: The Christmas Show

The original kings of comedy celebrate Christmas as only they can.

11. The Story of Christmas

Christmas isn't just about Daffy Duck and princess-saving plumbers. It's not just about Santa Claus or talking snowmen either.

The Story of Christmas recounts the tale of Jesus's birth simply and sweetly. Watch it with your kids if they start to forget the reason for the season.

12. Krampus: The Christmas Devil

And on the opposite side of the spectrum, we have a horror film about a demon who's come to punish all the kids on the naughty list.

Get all the Christmas music you need with Hoopla & your MPL card

Do you need some Christmas music to set the mood for your all-day gift-wrapping marathon?

We have you covered.

With Hoopla and your Mentor Library card, you can stream up to 10 different albums for free each month. And they have an enormous catalog of Christmas music from which you can choose.

Here are some of your favorites, but feel free to browse around the Hoopla site and see what they have.

(By the way, if you don’t know how to use Hoopla, you can check out this video tutorial that one of our librarians made.)

1. White Christmas (40 Unforgettable Classics)

There are hundreds of Christmas compilations with different legends singing different standards. This is one of the best. You want Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday? You want Peggy Lee and Elvis? You want "White Christmas" and "Ave Maria?" This album has you covered—40 classics from the artists you want to hear sing them.

2. The Ultimate Motown Christmas

The Jackson 5 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Stevie Wonder singing "Ave Maria," The Supremes singing "Joy to the World," Four Tops, Johnny Gill, Marvin Gaye, even the Funk Brothers playing "Winter Wonderland"—after all, it's not Christmas without some soul. Speaking of which,Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle also have Christmas albums you can stream via Hoopla.

3. Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs

For a generation, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the Christmas song, but Bing has more classics than that in his catalog. Hear him sing everything from "Adeste Fideles" to "The Christmas Song." And if you're in the mood for a Rat Pack Christmas, check out holiday albums from Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin and the whole gang.

4. Muppet Christmas Carol: Special Edition

I'm not saying the Muppets own Christmas, but you could make a pretty awesome holiday playlist just using Muppets soundtracks.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

The only downside to listening to Vince Guaraldi's classic soundtrack is you won't be able to get "Linus and Lucy" out of your head for a couple of days. You're probably humming it already. If you're looking for other kid-friendly Christmas albums, try Veggie Tales' A Very Veggie Christmas.

6. Christmastime in Larryland

Meanwhile, this one's definitely not for the kids. But sometimes you just want to hear Larry the Cable Guy fart "Jingle Bells." If you need more blue-collar Christmas, Bill Engvall has you covered.

7. Christmas with the Ray Brown Trio

Ray Brown's one of the greatest jazz bassists of all time, and this album's perfect for jazz fans who will snap if they hear "Run, Run Rudolph" one more time. For more Christmas jazz, check out Ray Brown's old bandmate Oscar Peterson.

8. This Is Christmas (Elvis Presley Performing Timeless Christmas Classics)

If Bing owns "White Christmas," then nobody sang "Blue Christmas" like the King. He also has a beautiful version of "Peace in the Valley."

9. Bach: Advent & Christmas Cantatas

For lovers of classical music or for those who need background music during Christmas dinner. More classical Christmas: The Royal Philharmonic take on seasonal standards.

10. Christmas Grass Too

A sweet compilation of bluegrass Christmas songs that includes Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, the Larkins and more. For more Christmas country, try Alan Jackson's Let It Be Christmas.

11. Phineas and Ferb Holiday Favorites

"I Really Don't Hate Christmas" is probably my favorite Christmas song. Thank you, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

12. An All-4-One Christmas

What? Sometimes, you just want a New Jack Swing Christmas.

Hoopla also streams video. Check out 12 Christmas specials you can watch on Hoopla right now for free if you have a Mentor Library card.

Mentor Library offering more ebooks than ever

Get even more ebooks from Mentor Library with 3M Cloud Library, our newest digital service.

Mentor Public Library is now offering more ebooks than ever with its newest digital service, 3M Cloud Library.

You can check out ebooks and audiobooks from 3M by bestselling authors like James Patterson, Adriana Trigiani, Aziz Ansari, Rainbow Rowell and more onto your Nooks, Kindle Fires, tablets, smartphones and even computers.

And, just the other books in the library’s collection, you can borrow them for free.

We'll have a Cloud Library Launch Party from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at our Main Branch. Patrons who try out 3M will receive door prizes while supplies last.

They will also be entered into a raffle to win a Nook glowlight.

We also offer several other free digital services, including OverDrive, which allows patrons to check out eBooks, audiobooks and even stream video.

Additionally, we have online services for checking out magazines online (Zinio,) downloading music (Freegal,) streaming video and music (Hoopla,) and trying out online courses on everything from art to accounting (Gale Courses.)

Tech-savvy people—or, rather, patrons who would like to become more tech savvy—can also come to our New Technology for the Holidays program, which begins at 6:30 p.m. also on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at our Main Branch.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System is bringing out its mobile Tech Lab with new gadgets, including wearable technology and even a drone, that people may consider getting others or themselves this holiday season.

If someone wants to learn how to use 3M Cloud Library or see how a drone works, they are welcome to come to our Main Branch on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Have Yourself a very Freegal Christmas

Thanksgiving is over. Nobody can give you a dirty look for playing Christmas music now.

So if you’re looking for something different to play this Christmas or just need a new copy of an old favorite, you should check out Freegal.

Freegal is one of the library’s digital services, which lets you download DRM-free mp3s of your favorite songs. Moreover, once you download a song, you can keep the mp3 forever. Put it on your phone, your computer, your iPod–wherever you want. It’s yours.

And if you prefer to stream music, you can do that too!

If you have a Mentor Public Library card, you can download five songs for free every week from Freegal, and there's no limit to how many songs you can stream.

So here are just a smattering of your seasonal choices.

1. Pentatonix, That's Christmas to Me

Last year's most popular Christmas album is likely to stay in heavy rotation this year. You can even check out the new tracks the group added to their Deluxe Edition.

2. Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red
Clarkson’s Christmas album is already ubiquitous. You can start downloading songs from it now for free. (If you have the patience to spread it out over a couple of weeks, then you can get the entire album. And, yes, I still call them albums.)

Personal favorite: I’m always game for a new cover of "Run, Run Rudolph." I’m less enthusiastic about "Baby, It’s Cold Outside," which is pretty much the holiday version of "Blurred Lines."

3. Harry Belafonte, Christmas
Belafonte could sing about muddy slush and it would still sound great with his voice, so it’s a delight to hear him sing these carols.

4. Dolly Parton, Home for Christmas
As a general rule, I love Dolly. This is doubly true during the holidays.

5. Ukulele Christmas
This album’s for all the people who loved Israel Kamakawiwo`ole’s version of "Over the Rainbow." And, no, these standards aren’t performed by IZ, but they have that same combination of earnestness and sweetness.

Personal favorite: "Auld Lang Syne," but you might also like the "Over the Rainbow/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" medley.

6. Kirk Franklin, Christmas
If you need some gospel music this time of year, Kirk Franklin and the Family have you covered. Standards like "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" sound sweeter than ever.

7. Harry Connick Jr., When my Heart Finds Christmas
Connick has a lot of Christmas albums in his discography. This one’s my favorite but they are all available on Freegal.

Personal favorite: "I Pray on Christmas."

8. Parranda All-Stars: Navidad
There’s a lot more to Latin Christmas music than Feliz Navidad. This album is a good place to start.

9. NSYNC, Home for Christmas
Any NSYNC fans out there? There must be some. These guys only sold 50 bajillion records.

If you bought the CD or even *gasp* the cassette when you were in middle school, here’s a chance to update your medium for free.

10. Glee Cast, Blue Christmas
If you don’t like Glee…

11. Elvis, The Classic Christmas Album
Freegal has the Elvis version of "Blue Christmas" too.

What are some of your favorite Christmas albums?

If you’re having trouble with Freegal, MPL Librarian Mary Pelton made a video explaining how to navigate its web site.

The best documentaries and videos for commemorating Veterans Day

Mentor Veterans Memorial

First and foremost, thank you to our veterans from all branches of the military.

We cannot not do what we do unless we are first safe, and you are the ones who have kept us safe.

Secondly, all of Mentor Library’s branches will be closed this Veteran’s Day. But, with our digital services, you still have access to all sorts of movies, ebooks, audiobooks and music even when the library’s buildings are closed.

Also, Hoopla has several films and documentaries that are appropriate reminders of what Veteran’s Day is all about. You can stream the videos to your computer, tablet or phone for free if you have a Mentor Library card.

1) Where Soldiers Come From (91 min) Not Rated

This documentary follows three young men from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as they receive their basic training and are sent to Afghanistan, patrolling roadways looking for improvised explosive devices. The film charts their evolving attitudes about the war and American foreign policy as they see how it works up close, as well as their sometimes tense relationships with their families, who aren’t certain the young men will ever come home.

2) You're the Enemy—Welcome Back! (46 min) Not Rated

Forty years after the end of the war, a few brave American veterans have returned to the place their country devastated. The amazing forgiveness and optimism of the Vietnamese people as they welcome these former enemies with open arms is the most potent form of therapy for the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and the guilt which made the lives of many veterans so difficult when they returned home.

3) Comedy Warriors (84 min) Not Rated

Four professional comedians (Zach Galifianakis, Bob Saget, B.J. Novak and Lewis Black), work with five wounded veterans (Stephen Rice, Darisse Smith, Rob Jones, Bobby Henline and Joe Kashnow) to hone their stand-up acts. This documentary shows healing power of humor.

4) The Ghost Army (60 min) Not Rated

From PBS: War, deception and art come together in this astonishing true story of American G.I.s who tricked the enemy with rubber tanks, sound effects and carefully crafted illusions during World War II. This remarkable tale of a top-secret mission that was at once absurd, deadly and amazingly effective is told through the stories of the veterans, many of whom—like Bill Blass and Ellsworth Kelly—would go on to have illustrious careers in art, design and fashion.

5) D-Day: The Price of Freedom (54 min) Not Rated

Five D-Day veterans return to Normandy and revisit the locations they landed on June 6, 1944, sharing their own very personal stories of war. This documentary won Emmy Awards for writing and photography.

6) The Battle for the Midway (50 min) TVPG

One thousand miles from anywhere lay a lonely outpost of coral and sea called Midway. It was here in 1942 where the U.S. and Japan fought one of the greatest naval battles of World War II that changed the course of history. And it is here again where Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard now leads a team of experts and four World War II veterans on the voyage of their lives. They're on a race against time to do the impossible: find at least one of the five downed aircraft carriers. Join them as they pay their final respects to their fallen comrades.

7) World War II: Saving the Reality (55 min) Not Rated

This documentary tells the story of an individual who owns the largest private collection of World War II artifacts in the world. More than 50 interviews with veterans and survivors of the war help tell the story of the meaning of the over 7,000 individual items in the collection of Kenneth W. Rendell.

8) A Perfect Soldier (56 min) Not Rated


An extraordinary and inspiring documentary about one man’s journey from child soldier to international hero. A Perfect Soldier tells the story of Aki Ra, who as a young boy was taken by the Khmer Rouge and forced to plant hundreds of landmines in the Cambodian countryside. As an adult, he has devoted his life to removing them, one landmine at a time. In 2010, he was named one of CNN’s Top 10 Heroes of the Year.

9) Ken Burns: The War (seven episodes, each 120 min) TV14

Ken Burns’ seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who become caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history. Six years in the making, this epic 14-hour film focuses on the stories of citizens from four geographically distributed American towns—Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota.

10) The Winning of World War II: The Road to Victory (16 episodes, each 60 min) Not Rated

Join General John Eisenhower as he retraces World War II. From the rise of Hitler to the historic battles and the eventual involvement of U.S. forces, witness the Allies’ road to victory. Then, discover the top commanders who made this victory possible.

11) Crusade in the Pacific (26 episodes, each 30 min) TVPG

Experience the epic television documentary event that chronicles all the bloody land, sea and air battles for the Pacific, produced by the legendary March Of Time newsreel unit and featuring never-before-seen footage from the archives of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, as well as film captured from the Japanese government.

12) Vietnam: 50 Years Remembered (seven episodes, each 50 min) TVPG

This 7-part documentary series tells the history of U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Featuring personal stories from veterans and detailing the battles, strategy, and politics of a war that consumed multiple U.S. Presidents. Vietnam: 50 Years Remembered is a chronicle of the tragedy that tested the strength of our country and forever changed the social and political landscape of the world.

Here’s a link to all of Mentor Library’s digital services, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, if you're not sure how to use Hoopla, we've created an explanatory video.

A Very Hoopla Halloween

Check out some of our favorite Halloween videos for free with Hoopla and your MPL card.

Looking for a spooky movie, ebook or audiobook for Halloween?

Mentor Public Library has you covered. You don't even need to visit one of our branches to browse the hundreds of Halloween selections available from our digital selections.

For example, Hoopla has video, music and books that you can check out right now, including:

• Dozens of scary stories from authors like Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe that you can stream anywhere (as well as some slightly less scary stories if you're looking for something for kids)
• Twenty classic Goosebumps audiobooks from R.L. Stine
• Halloween videos for kids and terrifying films that are very much not for children
• And even music for your Halloween party.

Here are a few of our favorites. (And, remember, you can check out up to 10 albums, videos, ebooks or audiobooks from Hoopla each month.)

1. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead: It's a movie about a play based on another play (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) which is based on another play (Hamlet.) Also, there are vampires.
2. The Wiggles: Wiggly Halloween: Need a kid-friendly Halloween video? You can trust the Wiggles.
3. Stonehearst Asylum: Based on an Edgar Allan Poe short story, this movie tells the tale of an asylum where it's impossible to tell the patients from the staff. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley.
4. A Very Brave Witch: A short, kid-friendly story about a witch who wants to see what Halloween's all about. Based on the Alison McGhee picture book.
5. The Crazies: A reinvention of the George Romero classic. A vat of chemicals in the drinking water transforms an idyllic, rural town into a murderous free-for-all.
6. Alligator X: It's a horror story starring an enormous, prehistoric monster billed as "the T-Rex of the ocean." What more do you need?
7. Room on the Broom: From the creators of The Gruffalo. A gang of animals cooperate to save a friendly witch from a scary (but not too scary) dragon after she shows them kindness.
8. Bride of Frankenstein: The Boris Karloff classic, one of the most popular horror films of all time.
9. The Sisterhood of the Night: A modern horror story about three girls who slip off the social-media grid and create a mysterious sisterhood that's invitation-only and protected by a vow of silence.
10. Mind of a Rampage Killer: Scary for a completely different reason than anything else on this list. The PBS special discusses the combination of circumstances that compel someone to commit the most inhumane of crimes.

Check out Hoopla and the rest of our digital services for more free movies, music, ebooks, eaudiobooks and more.

Read DC, Vertigo, Dark Horse & Image comics for free on Hoopla

Read Neil Gaiman's Sandman and more for free on Hoopla.

We've talked about Hoopla before. It's a cool digital service we offer that lets you stream music, TV shows and movie anywhere and at any time for free.

It's also gradually accumulated one of the best comics collections that you can read for free.

We've mentioned Hoopla's comics offerings previously; but, since then, they've added comics from DC, Vertigo, Image and Dark Horse to their collection. That means you can read some of the best comics ever written and drawn from the comfort of your home (or anywhere else.)

Here are 10 of our favorites from their collection—which, not to belabor the point, you can now read for free.

1. Sandman: I don't think I'm exaggerating when I call this the most celebrated comic series ever. The stories of Dream and his ageless siblings won't just change the way you look at sequential art. They'll change your perception of everything from Shakespeare to Thor to Death herself.
2. Invincible: Every comic writer is trying to create the next Spider-Man, the snarky teen hero with great power and greater responsibility. Robert Kirkman, with Invincible, comes closer to recreating the magic than anyone else. (You may have heard of Kirkman's other series, Walking Dead, which is, by the way, also available on Hoopla.)
3. Fables: What if Snow White, the Big Bad Wolf, Little Boy Blue, Cinderella, Pinocchio and all their other fairy-tale friends were living undercover in New York? Judging by Bill Willingham's opus, Fables, it would be endlessly entertaining.
4. Hellboy: Hellboy takes the story of Ragnarok (an unavoidable apocalypse) a step farther. Now, not only is the end of the world coming, it will be the hero Hellboy's fault. If that sounds depressing, then you'll be surprised how much humor Mike Mignola can fit into his story of well-intentioned (but doomed) misfits.
5. Y: The Last Man: Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra tell the story of Yorick, the last man on earth. During his odyssey, he tangles with pirates, secret agents, misanthropic biker gangs and an unhygienic monkey named Ampersand.
6. Saga: If you liked Y, double-down on Vaughan and read his epic about literal star-crossed lovers. Two fugitives from warring worlds fall in love and flee their respective governments (and a bunch of bounty hunters,) while trying to raise their infant girl.
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: You loved the show and weren't ready for it to end. Fortunately, the story continues in the comic. And there's no squabbling over what is or isn't canon, because the comics are overseen (and often written by) Joss Whedon himself.
8. Suicide Squad: Do your research now before the movie blows everyone away. Suicide Squad is the story of C-list villains forcibly enlisted into a government black-ops group. And, as you probably guessed from the title, the whole team almost never makes it back.
9. Watchmen: Not an exaggeration to call this one of the most important comics ever. Alan Moore wrote a story that changed how a generation perceived the violence, morals and "heroics" of superheroes. Watchmen and Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns forced comics to mature as a medium. They also happen to be really good stories.
10. Batman: The Long Halloween: The best Batman story ever. That's just my opinion and your mileage may vary, but you can read it for free to see if you agree.

Fair warning: As you probably gathered from some of these descriptions, these titles aren't all appropriate for your young ones. For the younger crowd, I'd recommend the Fraggle Rock or Adventure Time comics. (Both of which are also free on Hoopla.)

So get reading, and don't be shy about telling us your favorite reads on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Open the Disney vault with Hoopla

Hoopla just added a big chunk of everybody's childhood to its collection.

If you don't remember Hoopla, it's that cool digital service we offer that lets you read eBooks and comics, stream music and audiobooks, and watch TV shows and movie anywhere and at any time for free.

You can now stream a lot of Disney movies, music and more using Hoopla. (And it's still free with your Mentor Library card.) Check out some of the Disney classics, rarities and oddballs that Hoopla added to its library.

Movies

Let's get this out of the way. No, Frozen is not on Hoopla—not the film, at least, not yet.

No, right now Hoopla's great for finding that bit of forgotten freshness from your childhood.

Did you love Oliver & Company? The Sword in the Stone? Black Cauldron? Hoopla has them all.

Hoopla's Disney collection is especially kind to those who came of age in the 1990s. Did you sing along with Tevin Campbell while watching A Goofy Movie? Did you enjoy the Ducktales, Recess and Doug movies? You can watch them all right now for free.

Hoopla also has cult favorite Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. Depending on whom you are, that either doesn't matter to you or is the single most important thing you'll learn all day. (She's blind and rides a horse off a high dive!)

Hoopla also has some cool Disney documentaries, including the environmentally minded Sacred Planet and Trail of the Panda.

Animation buffs will love Frank & Ollie—a documentary about Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney's most famous artists—and The Hand Behind the Mouse, the story of Mickey Mouse's other creator, Ub Iwerks.

Music

Pretty much all of the classic Disney soundtracks are available to stream on Hoopla: Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Sleeping Beauty, Jungle Book, and, yes, Frozen.

There are also more Princess compilations than you can shake a scepter at. The best of the batch is probably The Ultimate Song Collection.

It also has the soundtracks for Disney channel hits like High School Musical, Hannah Montana and the recently premiered Descendants.

You can also find Disney techno, country and jazz compilations. The jazz album, in particular, is splendid. (It's worth streaming just to listen to Esperanza Spaulding hum "Chim Chim Cher-ee.")

A lot of great singers and musicians have taken a shot at the Disney canon: Louis Armstrong, Brian Wilson, Los Lobos and more. You can listen to their takes for free.

Here's a pro tip. You're best bargain of the bunch is Disney Classics. (Remember, you can check out 10 items from Hoopla each month, so you want to get the most out of each checkout.) In one album, Disney Classics gives you nearly 100 songs that you've probably known by heart since you were 12. Borrow it before your next vacation, and it will become the soundtrack for your every road trip.

More

Hoopla also has a useful collection of Disney audiobooks based upon the novelizations of their films: Toy Story, Brave, Big Hero 6, Tangled, Frozen and more. They're great for car rides with the kids.

You can even stream episodes from all five seasons of Bill Nye the Science Guy.

That's a lot to watch, listen and love. Start wherever you like. Me, I'm rewatching Goofy Movie.

How do you use your Mentor Public Library card?

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. If you don't have a card yet, we want to help you get one.

If you have a card, we'd love to know how you use it.

Because a library card gives you access to a lot: books, movies, music, magazines, eBooks, online courses, language tutorials, databases and more—all for free.

So do you use your card to check out books and movies, watch Hoopla on the go, download music on Freegal, practice Spanish, read books on your Kindle or iPad, improve your photography skills?

All month we'll be chatting with library patrons about how they use their cards.

First, Giselle and Colin talked about the value of reading for fun (especially when you're young.)

How do you use your MPL card? If you want to tell us your story, email jason.lea@mentorpl.org.

10 comics you can check out now on Hoopla

Remember Hoopla? That cool digital service we offer that lets you stream music, TV shows and movie anywhere and at any time for free?

It just got better.

You can now check out eBooks and comic books on your computers, phones and tablets too. (And, once again, it's all free with a Mentor Library card.)

Hoopla has hundreds of comic issues from dozens of titles in its collection. To help you get started, we're recommending 10 of our favorites.

1. Fraggle Rock: Journey to the Everspring

You remember Fraggle Rock, the glorious Jim Henson-created show with the Fraggles, Doozers, Gorgs and all-knowing Trash Heap. It's back in the form of sequential art.

All your favorite characters—Gobo, Wembley, Red, Mokey and Boober—must work together to find the legendary Everspring when Fraggle Rock runs dry.

2. Lumberjanes

Set in Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types, five of these hardcore lady types—Jo, April, Molly, Mal and Ripley—have to figure out the secret of their summer camp.

The story involves three-eyed foxes, holy kittens and mysterious bearwomen; but, if I had to sum it up in four words it would be FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAX!

3. Adventure Time

The adventures of young hero Finn and his shapeshifting dog-brother Jake have transcended the television. You can now follow their travails in the magical, post-apocalyptic land of Ooo via comic book.

Give it a read. It's mathematical. (Personal favorite: Marceline Gone Adrift where our heroes must find a freshly intergalactic vampire queen.)

4. Garfield

If you can't get enough of the lasagna-loving, Monday-loathing, Odie-taunting, owner-tormenting fat cat from his multiple television shows and movies, then there's always the comics.

Fair warning: This cat has not softened toward either Mondays or Nermal since you last saw him.

5. Doctor Who

If you are a Dr. Who aficionado, then decades of BBC programming and a dozen doctors aren't enough. You want as many stories in as many formats as you can get.

With this comic, you can follow the tenth through 12th doctors through anywhere in time and space.

6. Angel

Joss Whedon's Angel ended the Buffy-verse on a frustrating cliffhanger; but, through the magic of sequential art, the story can continue. Most of the comics are written or co-written by Whedon himself.

7. Peanuts

Charles M. Schultz may no longer be with us, but his stories about Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally and, of course, Snoopy will be with us forever.

8. Rocketeer

The Rocketeer feels like a franchise that should have happened. There were so many stories to tell with that character in that universe.

Fortunately, we have comics to continue the tale that began in the cinema.

9. Ghostbusters

Speaking of which...

With all due respect to the upcoming Ghostbusters films, if you want more stories about Dr. Venkman, Stantz and Spengler, then your best bet is the Erik Burnham-penned comics.

10. Jim Henson's Storytellers

Let's conclude with another story that began in the imagination of Jim Henson, specifically his Storytellers anthology.

The television show turned to mythology for inspiration. However, the comic takes a different tactic by retelling famous tales of witches.

Give it a read. You'll be enthralled by the pretty art, masterful storytelling and unorthodox design.

Learn How to Get the Most out of your eReader at Mentor Library

Learn how to use your eReader to check out free books, movies and more at Mentor Library.

Are you getting the most out of your tablet, or are you just using it to check email and play Candy Crush?

If you're just using your device as an expensive paperweight  we can help you by turning your digital doodad into a repository for the books, magazines and even movies you love.

The Mentor Public Library is holding a series of free tutorials in Maywhere we’ll show you how to get the most out of your Kindles, Nooks, tablets, smartphones, Kobos or any other kind of eReader device.

And—I can’t stress this enough—these classes are free and open to everyone.

All the classes are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at our library’s Main Branch. You can register for them on the library’s website or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 216.

The first session is Wednesday, May 6, and it’s specifically for those with Kindles and Kindle Fires.

The second session is Wednesday, May 13. It’s for people who want to learn how to check out library eBooks, audiobooks and other materials onto their tablets (including iPads) and smartphones.

The final session is Wednesday, May 27. It’s specifically for people with Nooks, Kobos and other types of eReaders but not Kindles, Kindle Fires, smartphones or tablets. If you want to learn how to download books to your Nook, this session is for you.

Mentor Public Library offers a lot of digital services that are always available, even when our buildings are closed; and you can use them from the comfort of your own home.

Once you know how to do it, you’ll be able to check out library eBooks, stream audiobooks and even watch movies (depending on what kind of device you use) on your eReader, smartphone or tablet from home.

No excuses: You’re never too old or old-fashioned (or too young, for that matter,) to learn something new.

If you’re pretty tech savvy and think you can figure out how to use your eReader without too much help, we’ve posted a bunch of how-to’s for each device on our website.

But if you want a little more help, feel free to register for one of our classes. Or you can bring your device to the library and one of our reference librarians will show you how to get the most out of it.

Besides, your eReader is more valuable as an eReader than it is as a paperweight that lets you play Candy Crush.

Don't waste your winter

Don't let a little snow scare you.

We know. It’s cold outside. Very cold.

Your driveway needs shoveling, the doors of your car are sealed shut, and you haven’t been able to feel the tips of your fingers since November.

But winter in Lake County isn’t just some inconvenience between fall and spring. It’s an opportunity—a chance to see something new or something familiar in a different light.

So here are five ways to make the most of this time of year.

1. Go for a hike. Lake County is replete with gorgeous parks. And while they may be a little chillier in January, they are no less beautiful. Are you trying to exercise more this New Year? Knock out two birds with one stone and go hiking. In fact, you can get a free pedometer or water bottle for your hike if you show your Mentor Library card at the Mentor Parks & Recreation Office this month.
2. Expand your taste palate. Whether its comfort food at Melt, fine dining at Skye, something crafty at Little Mountain Brewery or dessert at the Confectionary Cupboard, Lake County has hundreds of restaurants, eateries, wineries and more to tantalize you. We’re getting into the act too. Starting February, we’re launching our Tasty Tuesdays program. Each month, we’ll show you the variety of flavors you can get from a single food. It’s like a book club for your mouth. And we’re starting with chocolate!
3. Learn something new. Even if the weather has you trapped inside, that’s no excuse to stare at the walls until your brain cells atrophy. Take a photography class with Gale Courses. Learn Spanish with Transparent Language. Watch a documentary on Hoopla. (What those three suggestions have in common: You can do them all from home and they’re all free with a Mentor Library card.)
4. Update your music collection. You know all of those Best of 2014 music lists that are filled with artists and albums you’ve never heard of? Use them as a roadmap to explore something new. Listen to an artist from a genre that you usually ignore or check out that album from that band you used to love. But music’s expensive, you say. Not if you stream it for free from Hoopla or Freegal, which you can do if you have a Mentor Library card. You can even check out a CD or two, if you’re feeling old-fashioned.
5. Check some books off of your To-Read list. I even know a place that can help with that.

5 ways Mentor Library can help you keep your New Year's Resolution

Only eight percent of people stick to their New Year's Resolutions.

That's pretty harrowing.

But we at Mentor Public Library are ready to help you lose weight, save money, find a better job or attain whatever goal you have set for yourself in 2015.

1. Lose weight & be healthier

This is the most popular resolution, so let's start here.

If you want to lose weight or just generally be more fit, we have books on eating better, cookbooks with healthy recipes and exercise DVDs you can borrow.

Your Mentor Public Library Core Card also lets you try out local gyms, karate and studios for free, including Lake County YMCA, Mentor Heisley Racquetball and Fitness Club, Karate Institute, Family Karate and Spotlight Dance Studio. (Here's a list of all the discounts you get around town—just for having a library card.) Get out there and see what works for you.

We also have a pair of programs scheduled for January, specifically designed to help you get healthy.

On Monday, Jan. 5, Awaken Yoga is offering a free introduction to yoga at our Main Branch. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress, build strength and (when paired with a healthy diet) lose weight. This class is designed to accommodate people of all health and skill levels. You can register for it here. By the way, Awaken Yoga is also of our Core Card partners.

Then, on Jan. 13, Dr. Misty Morris of Morris Chiropractic will offer 10 steps to help people lose weight this year.


2. Find a better career

This year, we're teaming with experts from Ohio Means Jobs for a series of programs designed to help you jump-start your career. In January, we'll talk about how to build a winning résumé; in February, we're hosting a computer class specifically for job seekers; and, in March, we'll offer advice on how to ace job interviews.

This is in addition to the computer classes on how to use Facebook, Microsoft Word, Publisher and email we have slated for this February.

3. Learn something new

There are hundreds of thousands of ways to learn something new. Literally every item in our collection could potentially teach you something you didn't already know.

Beyond that, you can check out Gale Courses for hundreds of online classes. (You may remember the service by its former name, Learn4Life.)

Gale Courses has classes on everything from music to technology to accounting, many of which are taught by college professors. And they're all free with a Mentor Public Library card.

If you specifically want to learn a new language, try Transparent Language. Its online classes offers a simple, intuitive way to learn the basics of more than 80 different languages—pretty much any language you can think of, everything from Albanian to Zulu.

4. Save money and get your finances in order

We have more than 200,000 books, movies and CDs in our collection, and that's not even counting our digital services that let you read eBooks and stream music, movies and audiobooks anywhere and at anytime. (And that includes several books on how to best manage your money.)

Every time you borrow something from us, that's money you saved. That can add up to a lot of savings over the span of a year.

Also, our Core Card helps you save money with businesses and organizations all around Lake County.

5. Spend more time with your family

We offer a menagerie of story times for families, and they're starting a new session on Jan. 5.

But there are a lot of ways to use library resources to spend more time with your family. Borrow a stack of DVDs and start a family movie night.

And, while our story times are a lot of fun, there’s no substitute for reading to your child.

So we hope to see you soon. Whatever your resolution is, I'm sure we have a book, video or program that can help. Don't be shy. Just come up to the reference desk and ask for recommendations!

A Last-Minute Christmas Survival Guide

The Mentor Public Library will be closed Wednesday and Thursday for Christmas Eve and Christmas, respectively.

We hope you have all the holidays books, movies and music you need; but, if you're left in a lurch these next two days, we can still help. After all, our digital services are always available—even when our branches are closed.

We've also compiled some seasonally appropriate lists to help you navigate our digital collections.

If you're looking for Christmas music, you can download it from Freegal or stream it on Hoopla.

If you're looking for holidays specials that you can stream to any device, check out our Hoopla and IndieFlix playlists.

Finally, if you're looking for something to read, here are 12 of our favorite seasonal short stories and novels, some of which are available as eBooks via OverDrive or as audiobooks on Hoopla.

And, as always, all of our digital services are free with a Mentor Public Library card.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas!

Streaming Christmas Music with Hoopla

Do you need some Christmas music to set the mood for your all-day gift-wrapping marathon?

We have you covered.

With Hoopla and your Mentor Library card, you can stream up to 10 different albums for free each month. And they have an enormous catalog of Christmas music from which you can choose.

Here are some of your favorites, but feel free to browse around the Hoopla site and see what they have.

(By the way, if you don’t know how to use Hoopla, you can check out this video tutorial that one of our librarians made.)

1. White Christmas (40 Unforgettable Classics)

There are hundreds of Christmas compilations with different legends singing different standards. This is one of the best. You want Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday? You want Peggy Lee and Elvis? You want "White Christmas" and "Ave Maria?" This album has you covered—40 classics from the artists you want to hear sing them.

2. The Ultimate Motown Christmas

The Jackson 5 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Stevie Wonder singing "Ave Maria," The Supremes singing "Joy to the World," Four Tops, Johnny Gill, Marvin Gaye, even the Funk Brothers playing "Winter Wonderland"—after all, it's not Christmas without some soul. Speaking of which, Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle also have Christmas albums you can stream via Hoopla.

3. Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs

For a generation, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the Christmas song, but Bing has more classics than that in his catalog. Hear him sing everything from "Adeste Fideles" to "The Christmas Song." And if you're in the mood for a Rat Pack Christmas, check out holiday albums from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the whole gang.

4. Muppet Christmas Carol: Special Edition

I'm not saying the Muppets own Christmas, but you could make a pretty awesome holiday playlist just using Muppets soundtracks.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

The only downside to listening to Vince Guaraldi's classic soundtrack is you won't be able to get "Linus and Lucy" out of your head for a couple of days. You're probably humming it already. If you're looking for other kid-friendly Christmas albums, try Veggie Tales' A Very Veggie Christmas.

6. Christmastime in Larryland

Meanwhile, this one's definitely not for the kids. But sometimes you just want to hear Larry the Cable Guy fart "Jingle Bells." If you need more blue-collar Christmas, Bill Engvall has you covered.

7. Christmas with the Ray Brown Trio

Ray Brown's been playing bass longer than most people have been doing anything, and this album's perfect for jazz fans who will snap if they hear "Run, Run Rudolph" one more time. For more Christmas jazz, check out Ray Brown's old bandmate Oscar Peterson.

8. This Is Christmas (Elvis Presley Performing Timeless Christmas Classics)

If Bing owns "White Christmas," then nobody sang "Blue Christmas" like the King. He also has a beautiful version of "Peace in the Valley."

9. Bach: Advent & Christmas Cantatas

For lovers of classical music or for those who need background music during Christmas dinner. More classical Christmas: The Royal Philharmonic take on seasonal standards.

10. Christmas Grass Too

A sweet compilation of bluegrass Christmas songs that includes Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, the Larkins and more. For more Christmas country, try Alan Jackson's Let It Be Christmas.

11. Phineas and Ferb Holiday Favorites

"I Really Don't Hate Christmas" is probably my favorite Christmas song. Thank you, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

12. An All-4-One Christmas

You'll know almost exactly how old I am if I admit that I used to have this on cassette.

Hoopla also streams video. Check out 12 Christmas specials you can watch on Hoopla right now for free if you have a Mentor Library card.

12 Days of Christmas on IndieFlix

Remember IndieFlix?

It's the website that allows you to stream thousands of independent films from festivals all around the world. And it's free with your Mentor Public Library card.

The IndieFlix catalog has independently made full-length features and shorts, as well as classic movies and even television episodes.

And it also has a lot of awesome Christmas stories you can watch, if you're feeling festive.

So without further prelude, a dozen seasonal selections from IndieFlix for your 12 Days of Christmas:

1. Don't Tell Santa You're Jewish
A young Jewish girl is worried that Santa will find out that she doesn't celebrate Christmas during her hockey league's holiday party. This animated short is all kinds of adorable. It doesn't matter if you spin the dreidel or hang the mistletoe, you'll get a kick out of this one.

2. The Santa Lie
This short from the United Kingdom is about a 6-year-old girl who discovers the truth about Santa. Needless to say, her parents are left sputtering for an explanation.

3. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
This 1964 film is unforgettable. Whether it's memorable in the good or bad sense is a matter of taste. Simply put, you can file this one under "so bad it's good." It features a bunch of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus so they have someone to give their children presents. If you snickered when you read, "Martians who kidnap Santa," then this one might be worth a look. (It is free, after all.)

4. A Jersey Christmas
A group of clerks at Xmas-O-Rama, a tumbledown Christmas shop in Jersey, are trapped working there until midnight on Christmas Eve. While the boss is at a card game in a last-ditch attempt to pay his bookies, the employees (most of whom are not Christian) struggle with their "outsider" relationship to Christmas. Fair warning: Despite having "Christmas" in its title, this is not a family film. There's way too much profanity in this one to consider it kid-friendly.

5. The Jack Benny Show, The Christmas Shopping Show
In addition to independent films and shorts, IndieFlix features a bunch of classic television shows, including their Christmas specials. In this episode of "The Jack Benny Show," Jack tries to finish all of his Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. (You'll feel immense sympathy for the poor wallet salesman.)

6. The Silver Bow
This one just might make you tear up a little. A son gets his dad, a bedraggled street performer, the perfect Christmas present.

7. The Great Rupert (A Christmas Wish)
This movie might be worth watching just to hear Jimmy Durante sing "Jingle Bells." But the real scene-stealer in this family-friendly film is an animated squirrel who saves Christmas. That's right, Jimmy Durante and a stop-motion animated squirrel. If you don't want to see that, then you don't understand Christmas.

8. Jingle Blues, Jingle Bells
The father in an atypical black British family tries to get his family through the holiday and an impending financial crisis after he loses his job. Can he keep his sanity while still giving his kids the Christmas they want?

9. The Carrot Cake Conversations
This film is more Christmas-adjacent than full-on festive (like "Die Hard" or "Batman Returns.") It is a story of four strangers--three locals and a failed American actress--who find themselves stranded in Singapore two days before Christmas, and find companionship among themselves over a plate of carrot cake.

10. Wood of Value
This Norwegian documentary follows the path of a Christmas tree from the forests of Norway, across the North Sea to the city of London. It also tells the story of the people who assist the tree on its journey.

11. Christmas Comes on a Bicycle
This short film from South Korea is both somber and sweet. A young boy tries to get the object of his affection to notice him on Christmas, but she is too distracted by her job at a family bicycle shop to even notice that it's Christmas.

12. The Beverly Hillbillies, Home for Christmas
The Clampetts fly back to their original home for the holidays, but can a fish that's used to being out of water return to the sea?