Hypnotherapist to talk about power of hypnosis

Edd Schultz, a hypnotherapist who works in Kirtland, likes to compare the mind to an iceberg.

There's the tip above the water's surface, and it looks powerful and impressive. That's the conscious.

But there's a much larger, more powerful structure underneath the water that supports the tip we can see. That's the subconscious.

Most people think they know their own mind, but they're just looking at the tip of the iceberg.

Schultz will be taking people beneath the surface during Mentor Public Library's Monday University at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the library's Main Branch.

Schultz will discuss the ways that hypnosis can be used to address a range of common problems, including insomnia, weight loss and quitting smoking.

Schultz will also talk about how hypnosis can be uses to change bad habits, control stress, cope with pain and otherwise use the power of the mind as an alternative to traditional therapies.


You're welcome to join us if you're interested, or even merely curious, in hypnosis.

The talk is free and open to the public, though we do ask that people register for it beforehand. You can register by calling the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 215 or on the library's web site.

Edd Schultz will talk about the power of hypnosis Monday, Dec. 2, at the Mentor Public Library.

Let Us Provide Your Thanksgiving Soundtrack

Our library is closed today, but we can still provide the soundtrack to your Thanksgiving.

Remember Hoopla? It's the digital streaming service with more than 300,000 audiobooks, movies and albums that's free with your Mentor Public Library card.

So if you have a library card and a phone, computer or tablet, then we can provide you with the music for your family dinner. (Until the game comes on, then everybody leaves for the living room anyhow.)

You can stream whatever you want: classical, piano hymns, Motown standards, classic rock, even something for the kids table.

Hoopla also has something for those who are celebrating Hanukkah tonight.

And if you're already jonesing for some Christmas music, Hoopla has that too.

And if you're stuck at an airport or in the car today, Hoopla even has some Thanksgiving-themed audiobooks.

We wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving. (Don't try to deep fry a frozen turkey!) We're thankful for each and every one of you, and we'll see you again Friday.

By the way, if you're having a little trouble sorting out how to use Hoopla, MPL Librarian Mary Pelton made a how-to video that you can follow. (Just keep one eye on the stove while you're watching it.)

Making Some Fun Thanksgiving Snacks with the Kids

You need something adorable to see you through until the holiday?

We have you covered.

On Monday, we had a bunch of kids make candy-corn turkeys and graham-cracker dinner tables at the Mentor Public Library's Main Branch.

Hopefully, this double serving of adorable puts you in a festive mood.

Akshat shows off his turkey

Michelle helps Madison put the candy corn tail on the Oreo turkey.

Elizabeth uses frosting to keep Thanksgiving table together.

The final product.

For more photos of crafty kids, check out our Facebook page. For more children's programs at Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Hunger Games at the Mentor Library

Short post today. We thought we'd share some of the photos from the Hunger Games competition we had for teens this Saturday.

No, the teens did not try to kill one another.

Lexy hits both targets while practicing her aim.

Julia tries to sneak through our obstacle course without tripping any wires.

Nicole makes a paracord bracelet because you never know when you're going to fall down a ravine.

Andrew unveils a mean fastball during target practice.

Speaking of hunger, the Can Your Fines food drive begins today at all Mentor Public Library branches.

The way the food drive works is simple: If you donate food (which we, in turn, will donate to the local food pantries at St. Gabriel and St. John Vianney,) then we'll take money off the library fines you owe.

For more information on Can Your Fines, click here.

Donate food in exchange for library fine forgiveness during Can Your Fines

Most people don't need an incentive to do something nice.

For example, we held a food drive earlier this year and you donated 175 pounds of food just because you wanted to help people who needed it.

Well, we're asking you to give again but this time the Mentor Public Library wants to give you something in return.

That's right. It's the return of the Can Your Fines food drive.

The way it works is simple: If you donate food (which we, in turn, will donate to the local food pantries at St. Gabriel and St. John Vianney,) then we'll take money off the library fines you owe.

Here are the specifics:

• The food drive runs between Nov. 25 and Dec. 31.
• You get $1 off your fines for each nonperishable food item you donate. You can have up to $5 in fines waived this way.
• It's only a 1-time offer, meaning you can't come in every day between now and New Years, donate food and have $5 taken off the fines you owe. (However, you can absolutely donate food as many times you want; but we can only take off fines the first time.)
• You can donate at any of the Mentor Public Library branches.
• Every patron with a library card, whether child or adult, is eligible to participate; but if your fines have already been turned over to a collection agency, then we can't waive your fines.

During the Can Your Fines drive last year, you all donated hundreds of pounds of food that went to local families who needed it.

We hope to see that much generosity again this year.

If you have any questions about Can Your Fines, you can call the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 213.

Nothing Trashy About Trash Art

It's called Trash Art.

You take what remainders and leftovers and refuse you have and you turn it into something beautiful.

This Monday, we opened up our supply closet and gave the odds and ends to Studio MPL kids to make Trash Art.

After all, one child's trash is another child's art supplies.

The kids transformed pipe cleaners, scraps of paper, buttons, bows, recycled toys, computer parts and other sundry into gardens, beaches and smiling faces.

We were surprised what the kids created, but we weren't surprised that the kids were able to create something.

Because these kids have imagination by the kilo-Seuss. (A "Seuss" is the metric unit for imagination.)

If you haven't heard of Studio MPL, these kids are all sorts of spectacular.

They meet on the third Monday of each month and explore a different form of artistic expression. Just this fall, they've already learned different shading techniques for colored pencils and made Henri Matisse-style prints.

Studio MPL is open to any child from first through fifth grade. Next month's session will be Dec. 16 at our Main Branch. You can register for it here.

For more photos from our Studio MPL session, check out our Facebook page. For more information on programs and events for children, teens and adults at Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Happy Hunger Games

Teens will be able to test their agility, accuracy, cleverness and more during the second annual Hunger Games from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Mentor Public Library’s Main Branch.

But, no, they will not be trying to kill each other with bows and arrows.

Instead, the teens will compete in a series of challenges that test their limits. They can also make themselves a paracord survival bracelet and will have a chance to win prizes.

Every teen who comes to the program will also be entered into a raffle to win a gift card.

If you're not between the ages of 12 and 20, then we should add that our Hunger Games are set to coincide with the premiere of the Catching Fire movie. (If you are between 12 and 20, then there is no need to tell you something that you already know.)

The library’s Hunger Games program is open to everyone from the ages of 13 to 18. However, you are asked to register for it ahead of time. You can do so by calling the library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 215 or by visiting our web site.

As a bonus, here are some read-alikes for people who loved the Hunger Games books and are looking for something new to read: Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, Jeanne Duprau’s City of Ember, Mike Mullin’s Ashfall and Quarantine by Lex Thomas. 

Library Snapshot Day at Mentor Public Library

The concept for Library Snapshot Day began in New Jersey but has since spread to the rest of the country.

The idea is simple: tell the story of your library using photos from a single day.

Mentor Public Library held its Library Snapshot Day on Wednesday, Nov. 13. It was a busy day: story times, crafts and joint programs with the Lake County General Health District and the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.

But why am I writing about this when I have pictures?

Anyone who has been to our of our Tiddlywinks story times needs no introduction to either Ms. Mary or her puppet, Ben.

Speaking of story time, one of my favorite things to see at the library is people reading to their child or grandchild.

Mary Pelton, one of our reference librarians, helps a patron with a question.

Dave Lintern, a volunteer from the Garfield National Historic Site, talks about the siege of Chattanooga as part of the Major Battles of the Civil War series.

Our Reference and IT Department getting ready for International Games Day where teens competed with gamers from libraries all around the world.

A student studying at MPL Commons.

Chris, one of our super shelvers, hard at work.

Jon making a bird feeder with peanut butter, birdseed and a pine cone over at our Headlands Branch.

Of course it snowed on Library Snapshot Day. This is Northeast Ohio.

For more photos from libraries all over the state, visit the Ohio Library Snapshot Day page on Flickr.

Life After Meat: 10 tips for being a healthy vegetarian or vegan

Both vegan and vegetarian diets have become increasingly common in the United States.

While it's difficult to find recent numbers that say how many Americans are vegetarians--I couldn't find any statistics more recent than 2005--there is anecdotal evidence. Almost every restaurant short of a steakhouse has at least one vegetarian entree. Even burger chains are offering veggie and vegan patties nowadays.

People have their different reasons for foregoing meat: health, cultural, ethical.

By the way, this blog isn't intended as a wave of the finger at omnivores. We don't intend to tell people that they shouldn't eat meat. We just want everybody (meat eaters and vegetarians alike) to be healthy.

To that end, we have partnered with the Lake County General Health District for a series of talks on healthy living. (You might remember a couple of months ago when LCGHD suggested a couple of food substitutions that could make your favorite recipe much healthier.)

The LCGHD visited the library again Wednesday, and this time they offered tips to make sure vegetarians and vegans still got all the nutrients they need.

After all, meat does contain nutrients a body needs; and, if you're not getting it from meat, then you need to get it somewhere else.

Cori Kitaura from the Lake County General Health District offers some tips on how vegetarians and vegans can still get all the nutrients they need on a meat-free diet. 

Here are 10 tips that all vegetarians should keep in mind. They come courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture.

1. Think about protein
It's not difficult to get the protein your body needs from plant foods. Peas, nuts and soy products all have it. But you still have to make a conscious effort to do it. (If you're a lacto-ovo vegetarian, you can also get protein from dairy and eggs.)

2. Don't forget about calcium
You need calcium for healthy teeth and bones. It's easy for lacto vegetarians to get calcium from dairy products. Vegans will have to try a little harder. Some dark green leafy vegetables like bok choy, collard, turnip and mustard greens have calcium. So do calcium-fortified breakfast cereals, orange juice and soymilk.

3. Make simple changes
A lot of popular dishes have vegetarian variations: pasta primavera (or with marinara or pesto sauce,) veggie pizza, veggie lasagna, vegetable stir fry, bean burritos and more.

4. You don't have to give up on cookouts
Veggie and soy burgers still taste good from the grill. You can also barbecue soy hot dogs and marinated tofu or grill fruit and veggie kabobs. (Grilled pineapple is the truth.)

5. Include beans and peas
Beans and peas are nutritious and a good idea for everybody, but they are especially helpful for vegetarians. Try a vegetarian chili. You might be surprised by how much flavor a bowl can pack without the meat.

6. Try the veggie version
I'm not going to lie to you. Black bean burgers don't taste exactly like hamburgers. If you close your eyes, you can probably tell the difference between a soy dog and an Italian sausage. But you just might like a veggie burger or soy dog on its own merits. Give them a try. It will probably have less saturated fat and cholesterol than its meat-quivalent.

7. Don't be afraid to ask for some small changes at restaurants
Most restaurants are ready to accommodate vegetarians nowadays and an increasing number have an option for vegans. If you don't see anything on the menu that works, then don't be afraid to ask if they can substitute in something meatless. When in doubt, call ahead.

8. Go nuts
Nuts are also a great way to get protein and a nice accoutrement to most salads. (Go unsalted when you can. It's a lot healthier.)

9. Get your Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is only found naturally in animal products. Vegetarians should look for fortified cereals and soy products to make the difference. Check the nutrition facts on fortified foods to make sure you are getting what you need.

10. Find a vegetarian pattern for you
Check out appendices eight and nine of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans at www.dietaryguidelines.gov to help you find a sustainable vegetarian diet that works for you personally.

So eat good food. Be happy, be healthy and never be afraid to call your local library if you have any questions.

Get the Most out of your Library Card with Zinio

Whether you like watching birds or your weight, economics or ESPN, yoga or video games -- there's a magazine for that.

And you can probably download issues of that magazine for free using Zinio and your Mentor Public Library card.

You can download electronic versions of issues from National Geographic, Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan, Newsweek, Diabetic Living, Men's Health and more than 70 other magazines.

You can read them on your computer, smartphone, tablet and you can keep the issue. Forever. And (not to put to fine a point on it) for free.

Because the only thing better than getting something for free is getting something you love without having to spend a cent.

So check out all the magazines that are available Zinio. Then download that issue you leafed through in the checkout line but decided not to buy.

It's all yours.

And to make this as easy on you as possible, we've already put together a video explaining how to sign up for and navigate Zinio.

And when you're done using Zinio, you can check out all the other awesome digital services that you get for free with your Mentor Public Library card.

The Meeting of the (Mark) Twain

Mark Twain visited the Mentor Public Library last week. (Apparently the rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated.)

Twain was gracious enough to answer a few of our questions before speaking at the library.

For more information on visiting authors--both the living and the posthumous--visit www.mentorpl.org.

Get your controllers ready for International Games Day at Mentor Library

Teens compete in Super Smash Bros during Mentor Library's Wii Wednesday.

When you think of the library, you think of books, right?

There's nothing wrong with that. We love books.

We love music and movies too.

But we also love—and this is one that people forget—video games.

That's the big reason we're participating in International Games Day, which is Saturday, Nov. 16, at Mentor Public Library’s Main Branch. 

Gamers from 12 to 18 years old can come to the library from 1 to 3 p.m. that day and compete in Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Kart tournaments with teens from 1,400 libraries across the United States and world.

It'll be a lot of fun, and it will also give teens a chance to connect with people from around the world.

In addition to video games, there will also be board games—including Ticket to Ride, Gloom, Tapple, Cross Ways and Rodeo Rummy—throughout the library that people can play.

(If you love board games, but haven't really tried anything beyond the staples—Monopoly, Scrabble and the like—you owe it to yourself to try some of these newer games.)

By the way gamers, we circulate PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii games at the library. So after International Games Day, you can check a couple of cartridges out. (Do they still call them cartridges? I feel old.)

Teens can register for the Wii tournaments on the library’s website or by calling 440-255-8811 ext. 215.

Commemorating Veterans Day at IndieFlix

Mentor Public Library is closed today in honor of Veterans Day; but, like I've said before, you still have access to all sorts of movies, books and music even when the library's buildings are closed.

Specifically, IndieFlix has several films and documentaries that are appropriate reminders of what today is all about. You can stream the videos to your computer, tablet or phone for free with a library card.

They include:

1) Coming Home (14 min) Ages 13+
This moving personal documentary was made by Vietnam War veteran Herb Sennett. I learned that if I am not able to help the people in another land, I can sure help the people around me, Herb says. Coming Home features his recollections of that time, his impressions of Vietnam and its people, and the legacy it left on his life.

2) December 7th: the Pearl Harbor Story (82 min) All ages
December 7th, 1941. No American will ever forget this Sunday morning in Hawaii. This restored, full-length version of the film stars Walter Huston as Uncle Sam and is set in Honolulu on the day before the Japanese attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor, the battle that sent the U.S. into World War II, is vividly illustrated as only Hollywood can do.

3) Who Will Stand (112 min) Ages 13+
This feature documentary takes a close look at what happens to 21st century veterans when they return home: the joy of reconnecting with loved ones, the pain of dealing with lingering wounds.

4) A War to End All Wars (120 min) Ages 13+
Fascinating and unique tales from World War I, narrated by UK broadcaster Robin Thompson.

Here's a list of other digital services that are also available 24/7--even when the library's buildings are closed.

The Awesomeness of the American Girl Book Club

There aren't a lot of book clubs out there for elementary school-aged girls.

But considering how popular our American Girl Book Club is, maybe there should be more.

Isabella Glauser and Molly at our most recent book club meeting. Isabella made Molly her new necklace from recycled magazine pages.

Since we started the book club in January, anywhere between a dozen and 30 girls have come to each meeting. A lot of them bring their dolls with them, but a doll isn't mandatory.

The girls are always eager to talk about the American Girl book they've read over the last month.

They also make a craft. This year alone, they've made everything from dream catchers to jewelry to guacamole to God's eyes.

This month, we met Kit. Then we turned old magazine pages into beads for a necklace.

Aylish McNevan uses the wire for her necklace

Kim Sidorick, our children's services manager, had the idea for the book club after we held an American Girl-themed tea party last year. She thought the book club would help bring together girls with like interests to learn and just have fun.

“We had an American Girl tea party here last spring that was very successful,” Sidorick said. “The dolls are classics and the books circulate well.”

Emma McCue laughs while she and Libby Henrikson make necklaces at November's book club meeting.

Our last meeting of the year is Dec. 4. (The meetings are always 4 to 5 p.m. at our Main Branch on the first Wednesday of the month.) The girls will meet Samantha.

If you have a girl who is between eight and 12 years, then they can join the fun. They don't need a doll or anything like that. However, they should read Meet Samantha beforehand so they can participate in the discussion.

You can register your child for the book club on our web site or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 221. Registration isn't mandatory, but it makes it a lot easier for us to prepare if we have a good idea how many kids are going to be there.

Chatting with Maria Isabella, the author of 'In the Kitchen with Cleveland's Favorite Chefs'

Earlier this week, Maria Isabella -- the author of the cookbook, In the Kitchen with Cleveland's Favorite Chefs -- visited Mentor Public Library.

She talked about how food has affected her life and family and how she wrote her book.

Isabella compiled appetizer, dinner and dessert recipes from 35 local chefs, including Jonathon Sawyer, Eric Williams, Michael Symon, Dante Boccuzzi, Zachary Bruell’s and Karen Small.

For more on Isabella, you can visit her website or blog. You can buy her book at your local bookstore or here. (You can also check it out at your local library.)

For more author visits and other programs at the library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Jedi, Princesses, Superheroes & Colonel Mustard: Halloween at Mentor Public Library

We take Halloween seriously at Mentor Public Library.

We believe that, at least once a year, a grown person should be able to dress like their favorite Clue character.

We believe that an awesome child who wears an equally awesome costume deserves to be rewarded with candy (if it's OK with their parents or guardian.)

We also believe in sharing some of the photos we took of awesome kids in their costumes for you to enjoy. (Once again, we get parental approval first.)

So without further prologue, we present Halloween 2013 at Mentor Library.

Stop me if you've heard this one. A princess, a jedi and Batman walk into a library...

Rowan makes for an adorable ladybug.

Sam, I mean Batman, checks for candy.

It's a Lord of the Rings family! Jedidiah as Frodo, Josie as Arwen, Sadie as a fairy and Adelaide as Lady Galadriel.

What does the bear say? You'll have to ask Ava Marie.

Madeline emulates Tinkerbell.

A Power Ranger and Spider-Man? Now that's a super team-up!

Brayson tests his heat vision. Or his x-ray vision. Or maybe it's just his superhero stare down. Either way, we don't want to make this Kryptonian angry.

And in case you're wondering what our reference staff dressed as...

Ms. Peacock, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlet, Mrs.White and Mr. Green.

For more Halloween fun, check out our Facebook page or this video of our annual zombie walk.

Bring the Film Festival to You With IndieFlix

Let's say you want to watch I Love Sarah Jane, but you can't afford a trip to the Sundance Film Festival.

(If you haven't heard of Sarah Jane, it's a neat short film about 13-year-old named Jimbo with a crush. Also, there are zombies. It's one of my favorite entries in the post-apocalyptic, teens-with-bows-and-arrows oeuvre.)

Meet Jimbo.

So what can you do without a ticket to Park City, Utah?

Well, if you have a Mentor Public Library card, you can watch it for free on IndieFlix.

Not just Sarah Jane either. You can watch hundreds of shorts and feature-length films from cinematic festivals all around the world. Sundance, Cannes, places you can't imagine -- their films are available to you for free.

You can stream as many of them as you want on your computer, smartphone or tablet. And all you need is your library card.

IndieFlix also has classic films too.

Like zombies? After you finish watching Sarah Jane, check out George Romero's Night of the Living Dead -- one of the scariest and most influential movies ever made. IndieFlix also has classics like Nosferatu, The Little Shop of Horrors and The Invisible Man if you're putting together a Halloween playlist.

If you fancy yourself a cinephile, you owe it to yourself to check out IndieFlix. If you don't consider yourself a movie buff, you should still give IndieFlix a look. You'll still find something you love -- something you wouldn't find on NetFlix or YouTube.

No excuses: We even made a step-by-step video, explaining how to sign up for and navigate IndieFlix.

So catch a short during your lunch break. Watch a movie with your family when you get home. (I guess you could even watch a movie during your lunch break if your boss doesn't care about that sort of thing.)

But you should check out IndieFlix. You have not idea what you're missing until you look.

If you prefer streaming video to downloading movies or checking out DVDS, you can also check out Hoopla for more mainstream offerings. They have music too. And it's all free with your Mentor Public Library card.