Learn how to fix your own bicycle

It's spring time—no, seriously—and it's finally nice enough outside to take your bike for a ride. (No, seriously.)

If your bike needs a tuneup or if you just want to know how to do basic repairs for your bicycle, come to Make-It Monday at 6:30 p.m. on May 21 at Mentor Public Library's Main Branch.

Robert Ponti from Bicycle Hub will teach everyone basic bicycle maintenance and repair skills. You can bring your own bike to the program and get hands-on experience.

Make-It Monday is a series of programs at Mentor Public Library that encourage people to learn how to take apart, fix and make things with their own two hands.

During the first Make-It Monday program in February, people learned how to take apart electronics like computers, printers, keyboards and even eReaders.

People can register for Make-It Monday on Mentor Public Library’s website or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

After this Monday's program, Mentor Public Library will host three more Make-It Mondays in 2014. Then next session will be in June when adults can make art out of duct tape.

Later in the year, the library will host Make-It Mondays for interests as diverse as knitting and costuming.

Learn about computers by breaking one

Deconstruction isn’t just for postmodernists.

Sometimes, the best way to learn how something works is to take it apart and put it back together.

People can get to know computers and other electronic devices inside and out during Mentor Public Library’s first Make-It Monday at 6:30 p.m. on February 17 at the library’s Main Branch.

“For our first Maker Monday, we are going to take apart computers and show people what the insides of a computer, eReader, printer and keyboard look like,” said MPL Reference Librarian Mary Pelton.

Patrons will not just watch as Pelton and MPL Information Technology Manager Andy Gunsch take apart electronics. They will participate and assist in the deconstruction.

“This will give people hands-on experience with computers and hopefully make them a little less intimidating to the average person,” Pelton said.

People can register for Make-It Monday on Mentor Public Library’s website, www.mentorpl.org, or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

Mentor Public Library will host five Make-It Mondays in 2014. Then next session will be in April when The Bicycle Hub will show people how to maintain their bikes after a winter of disrepair.

Later in the year, the library will host Make-It Mondays for interests as diverse as knitting and costuming.