Jane Still Reigns during Austen in Autumn at Mentor Library

Her novels still influence movies, television, books and, most importantly, people’s lives; so—nearly 200 years after she wrote her last story—Mentor Public Library is welcoming everyone to meet Jane Austen this autumn.

The library is hosting a series of programs dedicated to Austen this September and October. Called Austen in Autumn, the event is designed to appeal to both dedicated Janeites and those who may not yet be familiar with the writer’s work and influence.

“What makes Austen different than almost any other writer is her continued impact,” said Amanda Densmore, the manager of MPL’s Reference Department. “Most people recognize Austen’s influence in Ang Lee’s Sense & Sensibility or BBC’s Pride & Prejudice or even that the movie Clueless is a remake of her novel, Emma. But when you read a Bridget Jones book or watch Friends, Austen’s influence is there too. If Austen didn’t invent the romantic-comedy genre, she’s still one of its greatest practitioners.”

Pick up a copy of Jane Austen's Persuasion of any of Mentor Library's branches.

During Austen in Autumn, the library will give away free copies of Austen’s posthumously published masterpiece Persuasion at all of its branches, as well as other locations throughout the city. These books need not be returned and are yours to keep forever.

Adults can also pick up a copy of Persuasion during MPL’s Austen in Autumn Kickoff Party on Thursday evening, Sept. 17, at Little Mountain Brewing Company. Little Mountain is even releasing a special beer for the event, Austentatious IPA.

The library will also host a series of book talks about Persuasion at its branches, as well as at Wildwood Cultural Center, Local Tavern and Redhawk Grill.

Additionally, Mentor Library has teamed with the Great Lakes Mall Atlas Cinemas in Mentor for free screenings of four films that all used Austen’s work as inspiration. Each of the screenings will begin at 7 p.m. on their respective Thursday and are open to everyone.

The films include Persuasion on Sept. 24, Clueless on Oct. 1, Sense and Sensibility on Oct. 8 and Bride and Prejudice on Oct. 15. The screenings are free because of a grant from the Mentor Arts Commission.

The Jane Austen film series will also provide an opportunity for local filmmakers to demonstrate their craft. The library is holding a short-film contest along with Austen in Autumn. Anyone can submit a short film (no longer than five minutes) that has been influenced by Austen’s work. The winners of the contest will receive fun Austen-themed prizes, but all contestants can see their work on the big screen during the free screenings.

Meanwhile, Mentor Library will host several programs that illumine both Austen and the times in which she lived. Debra Jane Miller will perform as Austen on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the library. She'll talk about Austen's life and work as the writer herself saw it.

Elizabeth and Jane Bennet (Katie Malish and Isabella Mastrey) spend some quiet time in Pride and Prejudice at Geauga Lyric Theater.

The Geauga Lyric Theater will have a special reprise of its rendition of Pride & Prejudice as part of Austen in Autumn. They will perform vignettes from the play in the library's Main Branch on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

There will be classes on silhouette art, candle making, and world history during Austen’s life; we're even hosting a special tea on Tuesday, Sept. 29—all of which will be free and open to the public.

That includes a Pride and Prejudice and Zombies party for teens on Oct. 12. Teens can practice their skulking and celebrate Halloween a little early when they party like the undead.

For more information on Austen in Autumn, visit www.mentorpl.org/austen.

Zombies are invading Mentor Library as part of Austen in Autumn.

Finally, Mentor Public Library would like to thank the generous financial support of The Friends of the Mentor Public Library, Mentor Community Arts Commission, Ohio Arts Council and Ohio Humanities Council for making Austen in Autumn possible, as well as the following organizations for providing time and resources to make Austen in Autumn the best it can be: Atlas Cinema; the City of Mentor; Cleveland Candle Company; Geauga County Ohio Bee Keepers; Geauga Lyric Theater Guild; Jakprints; Little Mountain Brewing Company; Local Tavern; Redhawk Grill; Sisters Tea Room; and Ten 10 Design.

Fun at CityFest

Paulina and her father share a story while at CityFest.

We had a lot of fun at our Pop-Up Library during CityFest this weekend, giving away nearly 2,000 books.

And we wanted to share some of that fun with you.

Elizabeth's new book makes her smile.

A Christmas book in August? Sure, why not?

Spencer and Ryan enjoy an impromptu story time at CityFest.

You can find more pictures from our Pop-Up on our Facebook page. You can see our photos from the CityFest parade on our Facebook page too. (We're vikings. It's pretty awesome.)

Finally, we have more Pop-Up Libraries coming up in September.

You can find us on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 3, during the jazz concert at Wildwood Cultural Center.

Feel free to pick up a book or two from our Pop-Up during the Women's Health and Financial Wellness program from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at Noah's Event Venue.

We'll also be at Little Mountain Brewing Company on Sept. 17 for our Austen in Autumn Kickoff Party, along with our special tribute to Jane Austen—Austentatious IPA.

Check our event calendar for more Pop-Up Libraries.

Our mighty viking crew from the CityFest parade.

Come see MPL's Pop-Up Library at CityFest

Have you spotted our Pop-Up Library around town yet?

If not, you can check it out this Friday and Saturday during CityFest.

It's stocked with hundreds of free books for kids, teens and adult. Feel free to take one (or a few) for you and your family.

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

You may wonder where the books in our Pop-Up come from. Most of them are donated to the library, so we make it our mission to find them a new home where they'll be enjoyed.

So stop by during CityFest and pick something up. It might just be your new favorite book.

You can show us what you found by sharing your new book on our Facebook page or tagging us on Twitter or Instagram.

If you aren't coming to CityFest—fie!—you can also catch the Pop-Up Library on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 3, during the jazz concert at Wildwood Cultural Center.

It'll also be at Little Mountain Brewing Company on Sept. 17 for our Austen in Autumn Kickoff Party.

Check our event calendar for more Pop-Up Libraries. We could be coming to your neighborhood soon!

You never know what you'll find in our Pop-Up Library.

Local filmmakers can compete in Austen-influenced film contest

It may be nearly 200 years since Jane Austen wrote anything, but her stories still resonate today.

That's why we're celebrating Austen in Autumn this September and October at Mentor Public Library.

That’s also why you can transport Emma to Beverly Hills like in Clueless or Elizabeth Bennet to Bollywood for Bride & Prejudice or to modern times with the Lizzie Bennet Diaries and it still works.

That’s why we’re challenging local artists to see what they can make of Austen. Use her characters, her stories, whatever you want from her, and use them to make something of your own and do it in a medium that Austen never knew—video.

Teens and adults can work individually or as a group to make short video (no longer than five minutes.) Videos will be judged on creativity, execution and how they incorporate Austen. The best films will win prizes.

All participants will be eligible to see their short film on the big screen during the Austen in Autumn Film Festival on Thursdays, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15 at Great Lakes Mall Atlas Cinemas.

Starting on Sept. 24, Mentor Library will screen four films that all used Austen’s work as inspiration at Great Lakes Mall Atlas Cinemas. Each of the screenings will begin at 7 p.m. on their respective Thursday and are open to everyone.

The films include Persuasion on Sept. 24, Clueless on Oct. 1, Sense and Sensibility on Oct. 8 and Bride and Prejudice on Oct. 15. The screenings are free because of a grant from the Mentor Arts Commission.

The deadline for entries in the short-film contest is Sept. 16.

For more information, call the Mentor Public Library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 213.

Learn about Monarch butterflies at MPL's Headlands Branch

Learn how our habitat helps the Monarch butterfly during its migration.

The Monarch butterfly is both beautiful and hard traveling.

It migrates thousands of miles from Canada to Mexico, passing through our humble neck of the woods each year.

Rebecca Donaldson, the naturalist from the Mentor Marsh, will talk about how valuable our habitat is to the migrating Monarchs on Saturday, Aug. 29, at our Headlands Branch. She'll also discuss the butterfly's life cycle, which takes it all over North America.

Donaldson is one of our favorite guests at Mentor Library. She's talked about the bald eagles and other denizens of Mentor Marsh at our Headlands Branch before.

You can register for her free upcoming talk on Mentor Library's website.

Learn how to can, pickle & preserve your harvest at Mentor Library

So you planted a beautiful garden. Maybe you even used seeds from our free seed library.

Now you've got tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet peppers; and you even managed to protect your lettuce from the deer.

What do you do? You can't possibly eat it all before it spoils.

How do you make the most of your bounty?

Well, actually, you have a bunch of options—canning, pickling, freezing, drying. If you know what you're doing, you can have fruit and vegetables all winter.

But what if you've never canned or pickled something before?

It's OK. We brought in an expert for you. Trained Master Food Preserver Judi Strauss will show you how to keep your fruits, vegetables and sauces fresh. Strauss runs The Charmed Kitchen and has shared her expertise on New Day Cleveland. She can help you too.

Strauss will lead a free program on preserving your harvest at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 27, at Mentor Public Library's Main Branch.

Her talk is open to everyone but registration is requested. You can sign up on Mentor Library's website or by calling 440-255-8811 ext. 241.

Speaking of the MPL's seed library, it's still stocked with herbs that people can grow on their windowsill and kitchen counter.

After all, the outdoor growing season may have tapered for the year, but herbs don't need a garden plot to grow.

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

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

So check out our seed library and see how your garden grows.

Dog-gone good reading buddies

Hattie must find Maria's reading relaxing.

I know I’ve written about our Paws to Read program, but I’m not missing any opportunities to share photos of kids reading to dogs.

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

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

Teah rubs Dugan's neck while reading to him.

Registration for the May sessions start May 6. There will be two 30-minute sessions on Sept. 16; one beginning at 6:30 p.m., the next at 7 p.m. We only have so many therapy dogs; so, unfortunately, there’s a limit on how many kids can participate each month.

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

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

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

That's a pile of pups! Ava and Jake read to Hannah and Honey.

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

Teddy Bear Picnic!

Madelyn gives her teddy bear a squeeze during our picnic.

I don't want to sound uppity, but our story times at Mentor Library can get pretty adorable with the mixed-up fashion shows, stuffed animal clinics and Ninja Turtles.

So how do we make it even cuter?

We told kids to bring along their teddy bears.

Abby sketches a portrait of her teddy bear outside of our Read House.

We had a Teddy Bear Picnic on Friday outside of our Read House with stories, games and crafts.
And I could tell you all about it, or I could just show you the pictures? So which would you prefer: words or photos of kids with their stuffed best friends?

The bears get in the game during Teddy Bear Shotput.

Kids play ring toss with their bears.

Marco makes a name tag for his bear.

By the way, if your kid likes teddy bears, then we probably have some books they would enjoy.

See you at the library!

Making Slime & Elephant Toothpaste during Super Science Saturday

Kids learned about chemical reactions by making slime and elephant toothpaste during Super Science Saturday at Mentor Library.

It's easy to make science intimidating. After all, dihydrogen monoxide sounds terrifying until you realize it's just another way to say water.

But it's not difficult to make science fun too.

For example, kids can create their own chemical reactions and perform their own experiments when they make elephant toothpaste and monster slime like we did at the Mentor Library during our most recent Super Science Saturday.

Fair warning: these experiments can get messy.

Elephant toothpaste is an old classic. You can find ingredients and instructions here. In the experiment, yeast catalyzes a chemical reaction and causes hydrogen peroxide to release its oxygen.

In other words, you can make foam that comes flowing out of whatever you container you mixed your materials in. It's a lot of fun, easy to do and your kids will laugh every time the foam bursts through the top of its bottle.

Monster slime is even easier. You combine starch, glue and food coloring to make a slimy, stretchy concoction that your kids will love playing with. (PBS Kids offers a great, easy-to-follow recipe on its website.)

Throw in some glitter glue if you really want to make your slime shine.

By the way, we have more fun science coming to our Mentor Headlands Branch.

You can join Mentor Marsh Naturalist Rebecca Donaldson to learn about monarch butterflies at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29. She'll be talking about the butterfly's life cycle and how important our community is to its migration path.

The program is free and open to everyone. You can register for it on Mentor Library's website.

Learn about Monarch butterflies at Mentor Library's Headlands Branch on Aug. 29.

For more photos from our Super Science Saturday, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Free ACT Prep Sessions Available at Mentor Library

Mentor Library is offering free ACT prep courses to teens on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sept. 5.

Stressed out about the ACTs?

Why wouldn’t you be?

It’s one of the cruel truths of young adulthood that you spend four years volunteering, participating in student groups and working hard in class, and then a single standardized test taken on a Saturday morning can completely undermine you.

So standardized test are, in a word, stressful.

But there’s no better remedy for that stress than being well prepared.

The Mentor Public Library is offering two free ACT prep sessions this September. The first session is from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 22. It will focus on general test preparation and the reading courses. The next session is Sept. 5. Its focus will be the science and math sections of the ACT. You can register for them on our website.

These sessions provide practical experience in terms of the types of questions you’ll see on the ACT, and they also offer strategies for test prep (that, by the way, work on tests besides the ACT.)

All sessions will be led by Dr. John Foster, one of our reference librarians at Mentor Public Library. Foster has a doctorate in history from the University of Washington and has taught at both the high school and college level.

And, yes, all of our sessions are free and open to anyone preparing for the ACT.

If you have any questions on our ACT prep sessions, you can call the library at (440) 255-8811 ext. 216.

Students prepare for the ACTs at Mentor Library.

Teens can face off in Hunger Games Water War this Saturday

Water grenades, sponge bombs, squirt guns of varied capacity and velocity—the artillery is ready. Are you?

Teens can face off in a Hunger Games Water War this Saturday, Aug. 15, at Mentor Library’s Read House.

We'll supply the weaponry. You can also bring their own gear to add to the group stockpile. However, you'll be getting your weapons cornucopia-style, so any artillery you bring could fall into the hands of an opponent.

The water war begins at 3 p.m. However, teens that show up at early to set up will be handsomely rewarded.

Reserve your space or be weaponless. Competitors may sign up for the water war on our website by calling Mentor Library at 440-255-8811 ext. 216.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Mentor Library lets loose the reptiles for Summer Reading Finale Party

Emma and Sophia pet the bearded dragon from Herps Alive, a rescue refuge for reptiles.

Mentor Public Library celebrated the conclusion of one of its biggest summers ever by inviting pythons, boas, tortoises, skinks and more to a party at its Read House.

More than 300 kids and adults met, touched, learned about and even held the rescued reptiles and amphibians from Keith Gisser’s Herps Alive during the library’s Summer Reading Finale Party on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Grant dons his cape during the Summer Reading Finale Party at Mentor Library.

This summer, Mentor Library celebrated all kinds of heroes including the literary, local and caped varieties. The library had special story times with teachers, firefighters and nurses, as well as programs dedicated to Captain America, Captain Underpants, Pete the Cat, Junie B. Jones and more.

More children than ever before—1,485, to be exact—signed up for Mentor Library’s summer reading program. And they read or were read to for 18,416 hours. (Also, a record high for the library.) And 608 kids earned library champion signs by reading or being read to at least 15 hours this summer.

“It's great knowing the kids in the area are reading over the summer,” said Kim Sidorick, the children’s services manager at Mentor Library. “Our goal is for kids to continue reading over the summer; and, you can see by the numbers, they are.”

Eleven kids help hold the python from Herps Alive at the Summer Reading Finale Party.

Additionally, more than 500 teens and adults sign up for summer reading at Mentor Library, and they read more than 3,200 books.

"We want to thank everyone who participated in our summer reading program this year,” said Amanda Densmore, the reference manager at Mentor Library. “We hope you read something that stimulated your curiosity or taught you something new, and we hope that you had as much fun as we did."

While summer reading may be finished, there are always more programs and events coming at Mentor Library. To see what’s happening next, visit the our website, www.mentorpl.org.

Sydnee becomes superhero Squidnee when she wears her mask.

For more photos from the Summer Reading Finale party, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

American Girl Book Club meets Samantha

Gabriella decorates her paper doll during the American Girl Book Club meeting at Mentor Library.

Our American Girl Book Club met Samantha on Wednesday! They also decorated paper dolls, made fans and even practiced their posture.

Remember our American Girl Book Club? The one where kids make everything from kites to rag dolls to dreamcatchers and talk about classic American Girl books?

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a different American Girl book and make a new craft.

Abby and Sarah make paper fans.

If you have a child who likes the American Girl books or dolls, then he or she can join the fun. They can even bring their dolls with them, if they like. (Of course, the dolls aren’t required.) The club is for kids from six to 12 years old.

Our next meeting is 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 in the children’s section of our Main Branch on Mentor Avenue. The girls will be meeting Rebecca.

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

Eva practices her posture the way they did back in Samantha's time.

Travelin’ Man Band performing free concert at MPL’s Lake Branch

Travelin' Man Band will perform a free concert at our Lake Branch Wednesday evening.

Are you ready for a good time?

Travelin’ Man Band will perform a free and family-friendly concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Mentor Library’s Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

They perform hits from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s—from Buddy Holly to Bob Dylan, CCR to CSNY. So if you’re eager for some Eagles and ready for some Redding, they’ve got the tunes for you.

Bring lawn chairs or a blanket for the outdoors concert. We’ll bring the band. (By the way, we owe a special thank you to the Friends of the Mentor Public Library who are generously sponsoring the concert.)

By the way, families can also join us for our End of Summer Reading party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Mentor Public Library’s Read House.

Kids can meet animal superhero Keith Gisser and the rescued reptiles of Herps Alive. There will also be games, crafts and kids can see if they won one of the prizes from Mentor Library’s summer reading program.

See you at the party!

To a Super Summer at Mentor Library

Kids take flight during Marvelous Monday at our Read House.

That was a super summer!

Together, we auditioned as Minions, joined the Ninja Turtles and trounced Turbo-Toilet 2000. We celebrated local and literary heroes. And most of all, we did a lot of reading.

Precisely 1,485 kids signed up for our Summer Reading program, Every Hero Has a Story, and they read (or were read to) a total of 18,416 hours. That's the most kids and most reading in Mentor Library history!

And more than 500 teens and adults signed up for our summer reading program, as well. Together, they read more than 2,200 books this summer!

Congratulations to everyone who joined us this summer for our summer reading program and events. And we have two things to say to you:

1. Never stop reading or learning.

2. The party isn't over yet!

Families can also join us for our End of Summer Reading party from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, at Mentor Public Library’s Read House.

Kids can meet animal superhero Keith Gisser and the rescued reptiles of Herps Alive. There will also be games, crafts and kids can see if they won one of the prizes from Mentor Library’s summer reading program.

See you at the party!

This adorable leopard gecko is just one of the many rescued reptiles from Herps Alive. Meet more this Thursday!

Story Times, Book Clubs, Concerts & More at MPL's Lake Branch

Kids use plastic bottles to blow bubbles during story time at MPL's Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

Summer Reading may have concluded but that doesn't mean the fun is finished.

In fact, just this week at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch, we're hosting story times, book clubs for teens and adults, crafts and a concert!

Kids—from six months to five years old, along with their families—can join us for a Fairy Tales Rhyme Time at 10:30 a.m. this Tuesday. We'll have stories, songs and crafts—all with a Fairy Tale theme.

Travelin' Man Band will perform a free concert at our Lake Branch Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday, Lake Branch will host both its monthly book club and a free concert from the Travelin' Man Band.

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and is open to everyone

Travelin' Man Band perform hits from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s—from Buddy Holly to Bob Dylan, the Beatles to Chuck Berry. So if you’re eager for some Eagles and ready for some Redding, they’ve got the tunes for you.

Then, on Friday, kids can craft some cool kites with us. We'll even fly them in our yard when we're finished.

Finally, on Saturday, our Teen Book Club will meet to talk about "Every Day" by David Levithan.

Teens can pick up a copy from our Lake Branch and join the conversation Saturday.

To see more programs and events at Mentor Library, visit our online calendar.