Who needs a brush to paint?

Who needs a brush? Ava uses a toy car to paint a rainbow.

You don't need a brush to paint. Almost anything can be your brush if you're feeling creative—marbles, toy cars, yarn, anything.

So we're breaking out the forks, bubble wrap, Q-tips, balloons, sponges, combs, cardboard tubes and plastics bottles—but no brushes—this Saturday to see what you can make.

Any kids who are five years or older are welcome to join us from 3 to 4 p.m. , Feb. 28, at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch. You can paint whatever you imagine. The only rule: No brushes allowed!

Kids can register for our program by calling 440-257-2512 or on our online event calendar.

Lily uses a straw to move the paint around her page.

Learn about the history of women in aviation at Mentor Library

Queens of the Air: Amelia Earhart, Ruth Nichols and Louise Thaden

What better way to celebrate Women's History Month than to recognize women who defied gravity.

Mentor Library is celebrating the women of aviation during a special program at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, at the library’s Main Branch.

And Northeast Ohio houses one of the greatest resources in the world for learning about the history of female pilots, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.

The museum also has stories, photos, memorabilia and artifacts from more than 6,000 women who have done some amazing things. IWASM Board President Connie Luhta, who is both a pilot and a flight instructor, will share some of these stories at the library on Monday.

She will talk about some of the women who have soared—both local and international, famous and less familiar—including a hot-air balloonist who performed at Napoleon Bonaparte’s wedding and Marge Hurlburt, an English teacher at Harvey High School in Painesville who set a speed record for women before dying during an air show in Iowa. Hurlburt also served as a Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) in World War II.

Luhta’s talk is free and open to everyone. To sign up for the program, call Mentor Library at 440-255-8811 ext. 216 or register on the library's online event calendar.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday at Mentor Library

Someone is celebrating a Seuss-pendous birthday soon, and Mentor Public Library is ready to party.

On Monday, March 2, all three branches of Mentor Library will commemorate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with story times, crafts, special programs and, of course, cake.

The party will go all day at the library’s Main Branch. Kids can play a Fox in Socks-themed matching game, make a photographic birthday card for Seuss, and make a hot air balloon (just like in Oh, the Places You’ll Go.)

And there will be cake while it lasts.

Meanwhile, at the Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch, the library will host a special story time for children four years and older at 4 p.m. Kids will listen to classic Seuss stories and make a Fox in Socks bag puppet.

Then, the Mentor Headlands Library Branch will have a birthday party for the good doctor at 6:30 p.m. There will be games, cake and Seuss books.

Later in the day, kids can stage their own version of the Seuss classic Green Eggs & Ham. David Malinowski of the Fine Arts Association will teach kids—ages three to seven—basic theater techniques with the Page to Stage program at 6:30 p.m. at Mentor Library’s Main Branch.

Mentor Library isn’t alone in celebrating Seuss. Schools and libraries across the country remember the man and his stories as part of the annual event, Read Across America. The National Education Association started it in 1998 to honor Seuss and revel in the joy of reading.

Each year, Read Across America is scheduled to coincide with Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2.

For more information on Mentor Public Library’s many Seuss-themed events, you can visit our event calendar.

Tasty Tuesday: It's like a Book Club for your Mouth

Our Tasty Tuesday series begins this week with chocolate.

Libraries are so much more than books. We're music, movies, story times for kids (and occasionally for adults), as well as programs that stimulate your creativity and encourage you to keep learning all of your life.

Don't get me wrong. We love books. We have more than 150,000 in our collection and that's not even counting eBooks.

But we aren't just about books. We're also a place to go where you can expand your tastes—whether it be in entertainment, information or, in the case of our newest program, your literal sense of taste.

This week we launch our new monthly series, Tasty Tuesdays.

And you don’t need to be a gourmand or foodie to appreciate it. You just need to have taste buds and be curious.

Each month, the library will offer tastings and host discussions on foods from all across the palate. It's like a book club for your mouth.

The first Tasty Tuesday will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in Mentor Library’s Main Branch, and they’ll be talking about (and eating) chocolate.

You can register for it on our website.

Bon appétit!

Anything is paws-ible with a good book and a good dog

Jake and Claire take turns reading to Jazzy during Paws to Read at Mentor Library.

I've mentioned Paws to Read before, and I'm going to mention it again sometime soon; because it's a great program, and I want as many people as possible to know about it.

Paws to Read is for readers between the ages of six and 12 years old. Mentor Library hosts it on the third Wednesday of the month at either its Main or Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

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.

Newfoundland Wilson and Olivia share a book.

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at Mentor Library’s Main Branch.

Registration fills up quickly, so contact the children’s department at Mentor Public Library soon if you think you child could benefit from Paws to Read. (There is often a waiting list for the program once registration begins.)

For more information on Paws to Read and other children’s programs at Mentor Public Library call (440)257-2512.

Payton gives Caesar a belly scratch in between books.

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

Tips for the Online Job Search

Have you been to a job fair lately? Did you bring copies of your resume (as people always tell you to do)?

What did the recruiter say when you tried to give him or her your resume? Probably "Apply online."

Nowadays, so much of the career hunt is online—not just searching for openings but applying also. Understanding how to navigate the online job hunt is just as important as knowing how to write a resume or ace an interview.

So Alaryce Shea of Ohio Means Jobs Lake County offered recommendations for everyone using the Internet to find their next job.

1. Don't screen yourself

You're on Careerboard or Careerbuilder or Monster or whatever and you see a job that you'd be perfect for. Then you read "five years of experience in the field" and cringe, because you only have three years of experience.

What should you do? Apply anyhow!

"It's a wishlist, not a recipe card," Shea said of the qualifications employers list online. "If they ask for five years of experience and nobody with five years of experience applies, what's the new number?"

If you can do the job they're advertising and want it, then apply. Maybe they'll screen you out, but don't screen yourself.

2. Know how to navigate the different job-search engines

There are a million different career boards and job-search engines. Don't bother with any of the ones that charge you money. There are plenty of useful free ones.

Shea didn't want to discredit any job-search engine; because, frankly, any site could be the one that leads you to your next job. That having been said, he does have some preferences.

He likes Careerboard because it's locally based and features a lot of Ohio openings. He likes the Ohio Means Jobs boards for the same reason.

And while Monster, Careerbuilder and Juju have all offered good leads, Shea does not recommend Craigslist.

One more note regarding career boards: If you post your resume on them, then update them frequently. The longer a resume sits in a board's archives unedited, the lower it shows up on matches for positions.

3. Remember to use keywords

If you're applying for jobs, then you're probably doing it on the company's website.

When you submit your resume online, include a page of keywords. And what do I mean by keywords?

Big companies don’t read every resume submitted to them—not even close. Instead, your resume goes into a database. When a position opens, the company searches through the database for certain words. If your resume doesn’t have enough of those words, your resume doesn’t get read. Even if you would’ve been perfect for that job.

So you need to include those keywords.

Shea recommends adding an extra page to your resume specifically for keywords. Include your name, title it Keywords and simply list your pertinent skills beneath. If you drive a forklift, include keywords like “tow motor” and “forklift.” If you work in marketing, “event planning,” “advertising,” and “graphic design.” Management: “hiring,” “managing,” “budgeted” and so on. (Make sure all of your keywords are true. Don’t say “CNC” if you don't know what that stands for.)

This way, your resume is more likely to show up in a keyword search, which will actually get it read.

4. There's still a time and a place for a hard-copy resume

When applying online for a job with a larger company, Shea also recommends another aggressive tactic for getting noticed.

Get the name of one of the big bosses online, and then mail a resume directly to their office. (Don't include a keywords page with this resume.) Include a cover letter that mentions the specific job for which you are applying. Also say that you have applied online but wanted to send them a physical copy, as well.

Shea's logic: The big bosses don't get a lot of resumes and cover letters sent to them anymore. In a best case scenario, this will make you stand out from the enormous pack, and anything that makes you stand out at this stage is good.

5. Yes, you probably need a LinkedIn page. No, you don't need to pay for a premium account.

Yes, your profile needs a photo. You should keep it up to date, as well.

LinkedIn can be a great resource for finding job leads, talking to other people in your field, and finding out who you know who's employed at companies where you want to work.

For more help, visit Ohio Means Jobs Lake County at 177 Main Street, Painesville. The phone number is (440) 350-4400.

Mentor Library will continue to team with Ohio Means Jobs for programs throughout the year to help career-seekers. In March, we’re offering advice on how to ace job interviews.

The Novels, Movies & Poetry of China for Chinese New Year

In the spirit of our New Orleans list for Mardi Gras and Civil Rights list for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we present 10 of the best novels, movies and poetry collections from China for Chinese New Year.

As with all subjective lists, we must begin with disclaimers. One, China is enormous and has been creating art for more than 5,000 years; so, yes, it's excruciating to whittle a list like this down to 10 items. We're going to miss some favorites, some excruciating how-can-you-not-mention-them favorites, so please consider this an introduction as opposed to an exhaustive overview.

Two, Chinese New Year is by no means limited to China. Macau, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and more celebrate Lunar New Years and/or Spring Festivals this time of year. Each deserve their list, but it's foolhardy enough to try to tackle 5,000 years of Chinese history in a single post—as we mentioned in the first disclaimer—so those will have to wait until a later day.

With these caveats out of the way, it's time to celebrate the Year of the Goat! Wear red, bribe the Kitchen God, and enjoy the art of the Middle Kingdom!

1. The Real Story of Ah-Q and Other Tales of China by Lu Xun

It's futile to point to a single writer and try to frame him or her as China's best writer; but, whomever you think it may be, Lu Xun is in the discussion. He is to Beijing as Gabriel Garcia Marquez is to Colombia or Naguib Mahfouz is to Egypt. He's their laureate. He was among a group of authors who created modern Chinese literature—embracing its cultural history while criticizing some of its outdated traditions.

His short stories, including "Diary of a Madman," "The Divorce" and "The Real Story of Ah-Q," juggle humor, sadness and keen observation. If you want, his complete short stories are also available as an ebook.

2. Dream of a Red Chamber (also known as The Story of The Stone) by Cao Xueqin

From one of China's greatest modern writers to one of its greatest classic authors. Dream was written in the 18th century during the Qing Dynasty, and it follows the dynasty's demise through the fortunes of one family and doomed romance of first cousins, Precious Jade and Blue-Black Jade.

This sprawling monsterpiece is more than 1,000 pages in some translations, so you may opt for an abridged version. But if you catch a good translation, it pairs fascinating myth and history with memorable characters. Cao brings readers into an open world where even a third concubine's servant is granted her own agency.

3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

You rolled your eyes, didn't you? Everybody knows Crouching Tiger, you thought, even my uncle who doesn't know his Ang Lee from his Christopher Lee.

Yeah, Crouching Tiger is one of those non-American films everyone knows, but it's also one of the greatest examples of the wuxia (translation: martial hero) genre ever, which reaches all the way back beyond Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms. If you enjoyed Crouching Tiger, you may also like other wuxia films like Hero, House of Flying Daggers and, yes, even Kung Fu Panda.

4. Farewell, My Concubine

But Chinese film is so much more than Kung Fu. It can be tragedy, history and love; or, in the case of Farewell, My Concubine, all three.

The film follows two Beijing opera actors, Cheng Dieyi and Duan Xiaolou, from childhood to death. If their story doesn't break your heart, it's because you never had one.

Concubine is similar to Dream of the Red Chamber in that it uses a personal relationship as a macrocosm to tell the story of the nation; in Concubine's case, the troubled (understatement) decades of the Cultural Revolution.

5. China's Bravest Girl: The Legend of Hua Mu Lan by Wang Xing Chu

You know the story of Mulan, the woman who disguised herself as a man to defend her family's honor. Read the story as the Chinese tell it.

6. Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian

Xingjian won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2000. He enjoyed some popularity in China but ran afoul of the government. He eventually moved to France and criticized his homeland’s government. It responded by banning all of his work.

Before leaving for Europe, Xingjian was diagnosed with lung cancer, the disease that killed his father, and told he was going to die. He didn’t die. He didn’t even have cancer. The doctor misdiagnosed him. With a new lease on life, Xingjian spent 10 months traveling along the Yangtze River. He, then, used that experience to write Soul Mountain.

Soul Mountain is an autobiography-novel-travel writing or in Xingjian's own words: “You’ve slapped together travel notes, moralistic ramblings, feelings, notes, jottings, untheoretical discussions, unfable-like fables, copied out some folk songs, added some legend-like nonsense of your own invention, and are calling it fiction!”

7. 300 Tang Poems

I should not have come this far without discussing Chinese poetry. For much of its history, Chinese prose was subordinate to Chinese poetry; and the poetry was particularly sublime during the Tang Dynasty.

And you don't need a doctorate in poetry or Chinese history to understand what has made this poetry worth preserving. The poems of Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei and more can be appreciated immediately but reward re-reading too.

8. The Analects by Confucius, Mencius, Tao Te Ching & Chuang Tzu

It's difficult to find western analogues for these classics, which provided the basis for Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism and Taoism. They aren't quite religious texts, and it's limiting to compare them only philosophical or political texts. In short, these books try to provide the guidelines for how to lead a good life.

While not all of their writings may apply unequivocally to this time and place, there's still plenty of worthwhile advice to be gleaned from them.

9. According to What? by Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei isn't just one of the most important living Chinese artists, he's one of the most important living artists anywhere. According to What? features more than 40 pieces from over the last 20 years—everything from photos of the Olympic stadium in Beijing to assemblies of thousands of porcelain river crabs (a metaphor for the Chinese government's censorship) to a selfie Ai took as he was being arrested by Chinese police.

You can also check out Ai's documentary, Never Sorry.

10. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

This last inclusion is different than the others, because Yang was born in California. But Yang's work is still Chinese art (as well as American art,) and that doesn't change just because he's from the diaspora as opposed to the mainland.

Pretty much all of Yang's graphic novels are amazing, but American Born Chinese is special. It uses myth, wit and racial stereotypes to tell the stories of monkey king Hanuman and of a second-generation Chinese immigrant trying to fit into America. And you'll never guess how those parallel stories end up intersecting.

Studio MPL explores Egypt with art

Mira looks through the phonetic, hieroglyphic alphabet to see what she wants to paint on her stone.

Studio MPL—our art club for kids in first through fifth grade—continued to explore Egyptian art during its meeting Monday at our Main Branch.

In January, they turned their names into cartouches. This month, they colored scarabs and used hieroglyphs to decorate amulets. (We can neither confirm nor deny that the amulets are magical.)

If your child enjoys art, Egyptian history or both, it's easy to do similar crafts at home. All it takes is some paint and a stone or two. If your child wants to spell their name in hieroglyphics, they can use the Virtual-Egypt website to get a translation. (Disclaimer: these aren’t exact translations from our alphabet to hieroglyphics. They’re the closest possible phonetic translations for each character.)

Landon shows off his finished scarab.

Studio MPL meets every month and your kid (or kids) are welcome to join us. And, like everything else we do at the library, it's free.

Every month, the kids take on a new art project. They’ve made sun catchers, painted sunsets, weaved and even garnered inspiration from Jackson Pollock.

Studio MPL meets on the third Monday of each month. Our next session is March 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.

Rose paints her amulet during the Studio MPL meeting at Mentor Library.

Mardi Gras! New Orleans in Music, Movies, Books & More

It's Fat Tuesday and that means Mardi Gras!

And New Orleans may not be the only city that throws a party before Ash Wednesday, but we would be remiss if we missed this chance to highlight all the music, movies, books, plays, documentaries and even cuisine that wouldn't exist without The Big Easy.

So we present 10 items from our collection that either are either from New Orleans artists or use the city as a setting.

1. Treme

Though it was created by David Simon, Treme is so much more than The Wire set in New Orleans. However, the two shows have this in common: Their settings are also their lead characters. For four seasons, Simon and his crew depicted the people of New Orleans—Mardi Gras Indians, musicians, chefs, human rights lawyers and more—trying to rebuild their city after Hurricane Katrina.

With its focus on music, cuisine and local culture, Treme is the best show about New Orleans—give or take Frank's Place.

2. Louis Armstrong

You cannot, cannot talk about the city of New Orleans without talking about the music. This is where jazz was born! And, yes, Louis Armstrong gets his name in the header, because he's the greatest. But we could just as easily spend hours talking about (and listening to) Dr. John, Trombone Shorty, Fats Domino or Jelly Roll Morton.

You can download more songs from New Orleans' finest on Freegal or stream their albums on Hoopla, both of which are free to use with a Mentor Public Library card.

3. When the Levees Broke

Spike Lee is at his best when he has something to say, and one of the most important topics he has ever tackled is New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This documentary examines the tragedy through the eyes of the storm's survivors.

For another auteur's take on Katrina, read Dave Eggers' Zeitoun.

4. My New Orleans: 200 of my favorite recipes and stories from my hometown by John Besh

Crawfish and rice! Chanterelles! Gumbo! What to cook for Mardi Gras or Reveillon—the best of the city's cuisine from a chef who grew up with it.

Also, for our younger chefs, may we recommend Tiana's Cookbook: Recipes for Kids.

5. Princess & the Frog

Speaking of Princess Tiana... Disney steeps this classic fairy tale in a southern sensibility. Don't just borrow the movie; get the soundtrack too for when your kids inevitably have the songs stuck in their heads.

6. Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

It's difficult to describe Toole's singular novel in a single word or phrase. Picaresque? A comedy of errors? Let's just call it a classic. Confederacy follows Ignatius J. Reilly—an overstuffed cocktail of intellect, buffoonery and free-floating hostility—as he pinballs against the colorful characters of New Orleans.

A manipulative hot dog vendor? A costumed detective? An ambivalent pants magnate? The French Quarter's dandiest dandy? All fodder for Reilly's jaundiced rants.

7. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

New Orleans' heat, headiness and Gothic architecture provide the perfect backdrop for Rice's horror story.

8. A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Whether we're talking about the play or any of the movie versions, Streetcar just wouldn't be the same if you moved it to New York, San Diego or anywhere beside New Orleans.

9. Gumbo Tales: Finding my Place at the New Orleans Table by Sara Roahen

Roahen was a stranger in a strange land when she moved from Wisconsin to New Orleans, and she figured the best way to learn her new hometown was by taste. Follow Roahen through po-boys and pho, Sazerac and braciolone. Then plan your own culinary excursion to The Big Easy.

10. Gambit

After the Channing Tatum movie comes out, he's going to be everyone's favorite X-Man. So get ahead of the curve and read all about the kinetic mutant from Nolia.

A 'mini' party with mega fun at Mentor Library

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our American Girl Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a different American Girl book and make a new craft. (We've made everything from rag dolls to dreamcatchers to guacamole.)

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

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

Party like an American Girl.

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

10 Books, Movies & Documentaries for Presidents' Day

Of course we love Presidents' Day at Mentor Public Library. A president lived right down the street from us! (And his son was the architect of our first branch.)

And we think one of the best ways we can celebrate Presidents' Day is by staying open and making sure people can get books and documentaries about their favorite (or least favorite) president.

We're also participating in Yours Truly's annual Presidents' Day dinner with the historical reenactors from We Made History.

And, as always, we have some seasonally appropriate reading suggestions:

1. The Trial of the Assassin Guiteau: Psychiatry & Law in the Gilded Age by Charles Rosenberg

We partner with James A. Garfield National Historic Site for a monthly book club dedicated to our hometown president. We meet at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at our Main Branch. On March 12, we'll be discussing The Trial of the Assassin Guiteau. If you like American history, you'll enjoy our book club.

2. Impeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy by David O. Stewart

The worst presidents make for some of the best biographies, and Andrew Johnson was objectively one of the worst. (Seriously, he was James Buchanan bad.) His inauguration began inauspiciously after he imbibed too much *cough* medicinal *cough* liquor. And his presidency devolved from there until he became the first president ever impeached.

3. In the Days of McKinley by Margaret Leech

This Pulitzer Prize-winning biography might be better remembered than its subject, President William McKinley. (The Ohio presidents are numerous but, unfortunately, also an oft-forgotten bunch.) Leech provides an exhaustive history of McKinley, as well as the life and times he inhabited. For some stories in this biography, McKinley is on the periphery or even absent; but this book is wonderful for those interested in both the president and his era.

4. John Adams by David McCullough

I can't imagine the research that must have gone into this biography. McCullough unearthed fascinating details that help tell the story of this brilliant and contentious founding father. (The miniseries is pretty splendid too.)

5. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

There are hundreds of biographies and documentaries about Abraham Lincoln (and at least one film about him hunting vampires;) but this one best demonstrates Lincoln's counter-intuitive brilliance. The story focuses on Lincoln's cabinet, which consisted of disparate and often conflicting opinions. (Lincoln named three of his presidential rivals to his cabinet.) By the way, this book "inspired" Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. Both the movie and book are good but they, in no way, resemble each other.

6. The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972 by Douglas Brinkley and Luke A. Nichter

President Richard Nixon's infamous tapes recorded about 3,700 hours of conversation between the president and some of the world's most powerful people; but, until recently, only about five percent of those tapes were ever transcribed and available to read. But Brinkley and Nichter have pored through the tapes to highlight fascinating conversations about Nixon's re-election campaign, arms agreements and opening relations with China.

7. One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev & Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War by Michael Dobbs

Get new insight into one of the most dangerous moment's in human history—the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dobbs' research includes reading a draft of the Khrushchev Peace Initiative agreement (the final version of which was never committed to paper because of fear it might look Bobby Kennedy look less "tough.") The author manages to add something new to one of the most discussed moments in one the most discussed president's life.

8. The American President

The American President documentaries discuss every American president through George W. Bush and group them by themes (generals, those who reluctantly took office etc.) so we can see what our leaders—separated by era and even outlook—had in common.

9. The Real George Washington
The Revolutionary War, the Constitutional Convention, the first national administration—all likely would have failed had it not been for George Washington. But what do you know about him? Learn about Washington's humble beginnings, his relationship with slavery and how he, in fact, could tell a lie, especially if that lie offered a military advantage.

10. All the Presidents' Wives

Behind every president (except James Buchanan) was a strong woman. Learn more about these women and how they influenced our country's history. And, if you like that, check out Women in the White House too.

Our Favorite Love Stories for Valentine's Day

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

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

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

Feel free to let us know your favorites too:

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

Join the fun this Valentine's Day at Mentor Library

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

American Girl Book Club makes dolls of their own

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

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

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

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

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

Our American Girl Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss a different American Girl book and make a new craft.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Master Gardeners' Tips for Winter Interests

People tend to associate gardening with springtime around here, but you don't have to be a one-season wonder.

There are plenty of ways to keep you garden interesting even in winter, and Master Gardener Kathy Terrell offered some suggestions when she visited Mentor Library's Main Branch Wednesday.

Different things make a garden interesting during different seasons. In spring, you have everything blooming; in summer, you have verdant greens; in autumn, the foliage.

And what's so beautiful about winter? The leaves have fallen and most of the world is brown and white.

But there are still ways to add color to your garden—even in winter.

For example, some trees have exfoliating bark, which gives them a beautiful dappled pattern in the winter. These include the striped bark maple, lacebark pine, franklinia and cornus kousa. Sycamores have pretty green and white streaks. It's a way to add subtle, pretty color to that white and brown winter world.

Of course, evergreens like Holly trees, blue spruces (which make great hedge rows,) dragon eye pine (with their variegated needles) or Washington hawthorns can add splashes of blue, green, yellow and even red, respectively, to your yard. Red or yellow twig dogwoods also provide their namesake colors even after their leaves have fallen.

Additionally, you can also add color with shrubs like the variegated yucca or partridge berry and early bloomers like hellebores or witch hazel. (Just be careful that your ground covers, whatever they may be, don't creep across your whole yard.)

By the way, winter also reveals a different aspect of your garden than other season—its structure. The "skeleton" of a tree can be just as captivating as its foliage or flowers, if in a different way. For example, river birches form handsome clumps; dawn redwoods evoke pyramids; weeping hemlocks can add depth to your garden; and espaliered crabapples can make a beautiful border. (Remember, when planting a tree, plan for its mature size. You don't want roots cracking your foundation.)

And complement your trees' "bones" with serviceberries, rhododendrons, grasses or a Turkish Filbert (which is great for flower arrangements, as well, in the summer.) Of course, if you get enough snow, you may not be able to see them for a week or eight.

After all, the idea of a winter interest isn't to recreate spring in the winter. That's impossible. It's purpose is to highlight winter's own beauty.

The master gardeners will return to Mentor Library's Main Branch on Wednesday, March 4, to recommend perennials that can give your garden year-round color. If you have any questions, you can visit their website and ask for help there.

Mentor Library looking for organic and heirloom seed donations

Donate your heirloom and organic seeds to Mentor Library's seed garden and help Mentor grow.

Are you a gardener? Mentor Public Library wants your help to seed the community.

We are building a seed library—vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs. If you have organic or heirloom seeds that you’re willing to share, please contact our Senior Services Manager Darlene Workman. You can either call her at (440) 255-8811 or email her at Darlene.workman@mentorpl.org.

With your support, we can help Mentor grow.

By the way, Mentor Library is hosting a series with the Master Gardeners at its Main Branch to keep your green thumbs verdant. The first session will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The Master Gardeners will suggest the best plants for a winter interest.

Then, on Wednesday, March 4, the Master Gardeners will recommend perennials that can give your garden year-round color.

My Community Monday gets books to those who need it

Diane Frangos picks donations from the shelves of our Read House for the Girl Scouts.

Mentor Public Library receives more book donations than we could ever use—more than we could fit on our shelves, even more than could be sold during the Friends of the Mentor Public Library's book sales.

Instead of letting good books go to waste, we wanted to make them available to people who could use them; so we invited local nonprofits—Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Broadmoor, Hannah's Home, St. John Vianney, Lake-Geauga Recovery Center and more— to visit our Read House on Monday, Jan. 19, and pick out books they thought their members, clients, patrons or parishioners would enjoy.

We call it My Community Monday, and we hope it put books in the hands of a lot of people—kids, teens and adults—who will dig them.

If you work for a local nonprofit and want to come to our next My Community Monday on Feb. 9, email our Community Outreach Coordinator Jason Lea.

Finally, we need to thank everyone who donates books to Mentor Public Library! We appreciate your generosity. You're helping a lot of organizations that make Lake County a better place to live!

Gail Keegan of Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers looks for books for their clients and children at Lake and Oak House.