Saying goodbye to summer reading for another year

Libby Davis tries to blow the world's most stupendous bubble during our Summer Reading finale party.

It was a great summer.

We built hovercrafts, made lava lamps, learned how to train our dragons, blew up pop bottles, learned how to take fingerprints and were visited by one of the NASA scientists who helped make the Mars Rover.

We also got to Know Poe.

More than 1,400 kids, 350 adults and almost 200 teens participated in our summer reading programs. We got to give away a bunch of cool prizes, including 573 Library Champion signs to all the kids who read 15 hours or more.

Lexi Neigoot (with a little help from Shana) enters a ticket to win a second-chance raffle at our Summer Reading finale party.

Thursday night, we had a Summer Reading finale party. Kids got to recreate their favorite Mad Science Monday experiments. (Bubbles!) And we capped the evening with a concert from Eve 'N Stephen Music Fun Band.

From all of us at Mentor Public Library, we hope you had as much fun this summer as we did.

We hope you learned new things, stimulated your imagination and had a great time.

Most of all, we hope to see you again soon at the library.

Because summer reading may end, but the fun never has to.

Zackary Posen dances with his sister, Victoria, and mom, Katherine.

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

Another big summer at Mentor Public Library

Kids (like Hazel here) earned Library Champion signs by reading (or being read to) for 15 hours.

Our Summer Reading Program may be over but the fun isn't done.

You can join us for an End of Summer party from 6 to 8 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Read House, which is next door to our Main Branch on Mentor Avenue.

We'll be hosting a special concert with the Eve 'n Stephen Music Fun Band. They'll be taking the stage at 7 p.m.

Before then, kids can see if they won any of our awesome Summer Reading prizes and perform some of their favorite Mad Science Monday experiments.

Now with more bubbles!

There will also be second-chance raffles where kids can get more fun prizes, but you have to be at our party to win.

This year, we dedicated the summer to science. We built hovercrafts, made lava lamps, blew up pop bottles, learned how to take fingerprints and were visited by one of the NASA scientists who helped make the Mars Rover. (We also learned how to train dragons; but that, admittedly, may not have been scientifically accurate.)

And then we got spooky when we dedicated July to Edgar Allan Poe.

We celebrated all aspects of Poe: his writing; his influence on art and cinema; his groundbreaking work in suspense and detective fiction; his interest in codes and cryptography. It wasn't easy, but we even found an age-appropriate way to introduce Poe to kids.

Zack squeezes the Tell-Tale Heart during our Poe-themed obstacle course.

More children than ever before—1,462, to be exact—signed up for our summer reading program at Mentor Library. And they read or were read to for 17,385 hours. (Also, a record high for us.) And 586 kids earned library champion signs by reading or being read to at least 15 hours this summer.

We also had more than 500 teens and adults sign up for summer reading, and they read more than 3,200 books.

All totaled, it was one of our biggest summer reading programs ever!

Of course, that just means we need to think even bigger next year.

See you at the library!

Kacey and Annalise grab a quick snack after an afternoon of granting wishes yesterday by our Read House.

Edgar Allan Poe for children

Zack squeezes the Tell-Tale Heart during our Poe-themed obstacle course.

As we may have mentioned once or twice already, Mentor Library has dedicated the month of July to Edgar Allan Poe. All month, we've been hosting Know Poe events: citywide book clubs, free film festivals, scary video contests; and we still have more to come.

However, admittedly, a lot of our Know Poe programs have been for adults and teens. After all, with all the people getting dismembered, buried or burnt alive, it's difficult to design appropriate Poe programming for children.

But Mentor Public Library is for the whole family, so we took it upon ourselves to create programs that would introduce children to Poe without traumatizing them.

Peyton and her mom, Theresa, sort out some Poe codes during our cryptography program at Headlands.

For example, we held a program for kids about Poe’s love of cryptography last Saturday at our Headlands Branch.

Cryptography, in case you haven't heard of it, is secret writing. Or, rather, it’s using codes and rubrics to hide secrets in plain sight. Poe was fascinated by cryptography and hid all sorts of secret messages in his prose and poetry. For example, he hid the name of his friend Sarah Anna Lewis in his poem “An Enigma.”

On Saturday, the kids used one of Poe's own rubrics to crack codes and learn secret messages.

Erin came dressed in costume for our life-sized, Poe-inspired game of Clue.

Then this week, we had a special life-sized version of Clue in which we transformed the Garfield Room into an enormous game board. Then we substituted Colonel Mustard and company with characters, places and demises from Poe stories.

Some people even showed up in costume.

Elizabeth hides in the House of Usher.

Just yesterday, we unveiled a special obstacle course where all 10 obstacles come from Poe stories. Kids had to dodge The Pendulum, escape The House of Usher, break The Gold-Bug's code and even make their own mask for a masquerade.

For more photos from the obstacle course, check out Mentor Library's Facebook page.

And we're not done yet.

On July 22, kids can use their sleuthing skills to solve a mystery at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch. After all, Poe did invent the detective genre, as well as horror.

(By the way, I know it’s not for children but we’re hosting a special horror writing workshop for teens on on Saturday at our Main Branch. It’s a fun opportunity for young writers to hone their crafts.)

You can sign up for any and all of these Know Poe events on Mentor Public Library’s website.

Teens have a Minute to Win It

Teens competed in our Minute to Win It competition this Saturday.

You're going to want to watch the video—if only to see the faces the contestants made during Face the Cookie. (They have to move a cookie from their foreheads to their mouths, using only the muscles in their face.)

By the way, teens still have time to sign up for Mentor Library's summer reading program and our free horror writing workshop this Saturday.

Teens can enjoy a spa day at Mentor Library

Angelina and Rosa relax with their face masks on during the Spa Day at the library last year.

Hey teens, that summer job got you down? The looming return of school already feel overwhelming?

You deserve a break. Enjoy a free spa day on us this Tuesday at our Main Branch.

You can make yourself avocado face mask, paint your nails, get a hand massage—just relax.

(Oh, and while you're here, make sure to sign up for our summer reading program and our free horror writing workshop this Saturday.)

Nail Art Tips & Tricks from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon & Spa

Kayla puts a layer of white polish on her nails.

Some of the ladies of Ladies and Gentlemen Salon and Spa visited the Mentor Public Library Thursday to offer some nail arts tips to our teens.

Here are some cool tricks you can try at home.

Guess what the "H" and "P" on Amanda's nails stand for?

Polka Dot Nails

1. First, prepare your nails by cleaning them off. Then paint each nail with a base coat and one to two coats of nail polish.

2. Once your nails are dry, take the flat end of a lip gloss applicator (the end without foam) and lightly dip it in the polish. You only need a small amount of polish on the applicator. (If you don't have an applicator, other circular objects can be substituted.)

3. Next, take the applicator and dab it on your nail to create polka dots. Dot as many circles on your nails as you want. (Pretty much everything in nail art comes down to lines and dots. The more you practice both, the better and more elaborate designs you'll be able to create.)

4. Allow your dots to dry.

5. Apply a top coat to your nails to prevent them from chipping.

Maddie presses newspaper down so its image transfers to her nails.

Newspaper Nails

1. Once again, apply a base coat and one to two coats of polish.

2. Allow the nails to dry. Then, pour some rubbing alcohol into a small cup.

3. Once your nails are dry, dip them into the small cup.

4. Place the newspaper (or comic book, print book or any other type of paper that has ink on it) on to your nail. Be sure that the nail is still wet with alcohol.

5. Lightly press on the nail to make sure that the ink transfers on to it.

6. After about a minute, peel back the corner of the paper to see if the ink is on your nail. If so, you can remove the paper.

7. Finish your nail design with a layer of clear topcoat.

Rachel paints stripes on one of her nails as an accent.

Thank you to both Ladies and Gentleman Salon and Spa and all the teens who came to the program Thursday. For more information on events and programs at the Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Have the most beautiful cuticles with DIY Nail Art

Some people are good at painting their nails and some people are nail artists.

Teens who want to take their cuticles to the next level can come to our Nail Art program this Thursday evening at Mentor Library's Main Branch. (Register for it here.) The experts from Ladies & Gentlemen Salon and Spa will be there to offer some of their best tips and tricks.

Before we get to the advanced-level stuff, here's some good advice the Ladies & Gentlemen nail artists offered the last time they visited us.

1. Always try to use a base coat before polishing your nails. This prevents them from yellowing.

2. Never pull at or tear hangnails. Use nail clippers instead.

3. Are you a nail biter and can't seem to break the habit? Always keep a coat of polish on your nails. That will make you less likely to take a bite.

4. Just like with any other beauty treatment -- so much of nail art is taking care of your body (in this instance, your nails and hands, specifically.) Try to keep your hands moisturized to prevent them from looking dry and cracked.

5. Along the same lines as Tip 4, keep the underneath of your nails clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and germs.

For more tips and some next-level nail designs, join us this Thursday.

Blowing things up in the name of science

Who hasn't wanted to drop a pack of Mentos into Diet Coke to see what kind of carnage it wreaks?

Pretty much anyone who has ever heard about it in their middle school science class or seen Wreck-It Ralph, right?

Well, we took it a step farther during our inaugural Weird Science Wednesday. Teens who came to our program tested to see what soda-Mentos pairing caused the biggest explosion. (You win if you guessed lemon-lime.)

But our Weird Science experiments have just begun. On June 18, we’ll use Sun Paper to show how pre-digital photography worked. (Yes, there is such a thing as pre-digital photography.)

Finally, on June 25, we’ll experiment with the science of weather, which means you can help us make miniature versions of tornadoes, volcanoes and tsunamis.

Teens can sign up for both these programs on our website or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

And, while you're here, why not sign up for our summer reading program? Every teen who participates in Spark a Reaction, either by reading or coming to Mentor Library programs, has a chance to win prizes. Those include gift certificates from Retroland Toys, Zoup, Great Lakes Game Emporium, Tryst Salon & Spa and our grand prize, a Nook eReader from Barnes & Noble.

And the more you read, the better chance you have of winning.

Kicking Off Summer Reading with COSI

In 10 days, nearly 700 children, 200 adults and about 75 teens have already signed up for our summer reading program, but there’s always room for more.

This year’s summer reading program is dedicated to science. So when the library held its kickoff party Saturday, we invited the COSI to participate too.

Lucy learns about friction and kinetic energy by playing with the magnetized marble slides at our summer reading kickoff party.

COSI brought science kiosks that allowed kids to perform small experiments and games that taught the kids about magnetism, friction, air pressure, kinetic energy and more.

The library will host fun programs—many dedicated to science—all summer.

Gabriel stands on his father’s knee so he’s tall enough to reach the blocks.

We'll be having Mad Science Mondays where children can perform hands-on experiments and make crafts using different themes each week. We're also hosting Trashy Tuesdays every other week where kids can make fun crafts using recycled supplies.

Teens will have Weird Science Wednesdays throughout June that feature experiments with photography and weather.

Jordan is stymied by one of COSI’s puzzles.

Everyone who participates in our summer reading programs—either by reading and/or attending library programs—has a chance to win prizes. Grand prizes include a $100 gift card from Toys ‘R’ Us for kids and Nook eReaders for teens and adults. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning something.

If you want to sign up for summer reading, you can register for it at any of our branches.

Elizabeth tries to balance COSI's rod and learns an object lesson in gravity and momentum.

Visit our Facebook page for more photos from our summer reading program kickoff party.

Read your dreams and make them true

Geoffrey Landis loved science fiction as a kid—Asimov, Clarke, Bradbury, all the big names. He loved science fiction so much that he started to love the science behind it.

Now, he's a scientist for NASA. And an award-winning science-fiction author.

Reading can help you become whatever you want. It helped Landis build Mars rovers for NASA. It can help you (or your kid) become an archaeologist or paleontologist or artist.

Reading can be (and often is) the first step for making a dream come true.

Then again, reading isn't where a dream ends. (Unless, of course, your dream is to read a lot. And that's a perfectly wonderful dream.)

Landis himself said, "The heart of science is doing things... Any place you can go and interact with the world, that's science."

So we don't want you to just read about science this summer, though we want you to do that too. We want everyone to get involved in science.

That's why we're bringing COSI our summer reading kickoff party this Saturday. That's why we're hosting Weird Science Wednesdays all this month. That's why storm chasers are coming to the library next month.

We want you to get out there, learn something new and have fun while doing it.

Landis did that and it took him all the way to Mars. Who knows where it can take you?

Teens can Spark a Reaction this summer at Mentor Library

Teens throw colored dye at one another during our Holi celebration last summer.

Summer reading isn't just for kids. Anyone can learn something new and have fun while doing it this summer.

That's why we have a summer reading program specifically for teens, Spark a Reaction. You can sign up for it at any of our branches. It's dedicated to weird science and fun experiments.

Starting June 11, we'll be having Weird Science Wednesdays every week in June outside of our Main Branch. We're kicking it off with their own version of Mythbusters. We'll see if we can make a Coke-Mentos volcano, if toast always lands butter-side down and test other popular myths.

The week after that, we'll use Sun Paper to show how pre-digital photography worked. (Yes, there is a such thing as pre-digital photography.)

Finally, on June 25, we'll experiment with the science of weather, which means you can help us make miniature versions of tornadoes, volcanoes and tsunamis.

You can sign up for any and all of these programs on our website or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

Every teen who participates in our Spark a Reaction, either by reading or coming to Mentor Library programs, has a chance to win prizes. Those include gift certificates from Retroland Toys, Zoup, Great Lakes Game Emporium, Tryst Salon & Spa and our grand prize, a Nook eReader from Barnes & Noble.

And the more you read, the better chance you have of winning.

So come to the library. Read something new. Learn something fun. Spark a reaction.

It's mad science this summer at Mentor Library

Last year, Mentor Public Library had its biggest summer reading program ever. More than 2,000 kids, teens and adults signed up.

This year we want it to be even bigger.

We are running a trio of summer reading programs this year—one for children, teens and adults, respectively—and all three are focused on science. The children’s program is Fizz, Boom, Read; the teens’ is Spark a Reaction; and adults’ is Literary Elements.

People can start registering for summer reading on May 31 and there will be a special kickoff party for kids on Saturday, June 7, at the Read House, which is next door to the our Main Branch. COSI (the Center of Science and Industry) will bring its traveling exhibits to the party and show kids how much fun science can be.

By the way, our party is free, open to everyone and no registration is necessary.

But that's just the beginning. Mentor Library will host fun programs to get kids, teens and adults excited about science all through the summer.

We’re having Mad Science Mondays from June 16 to Aug. 4 at the Read House, which will be open to kids of all ages. The children will have the opportunity to perform hands-on experiments and make crafts using different themes every Monday.

Meanwhile, teens will have Weird Science Wednesdays throughout June that feature experiments with photography and weather. The series kicks off on June 11 when teens will test popular myths with their own version of Mythbusters.

Both teens and adults are welcome to our Monday University series, which will feature two exciting science-themed programs this summer: “Exploring Mars with NASA’s Geoffrey Landis” on June 2 and “Storm Chasers” on July 14 with Aaron Rigsby of the Ohio Storm Chasers.

Everyone who participates in the summer reading programs has a chance to win prizes—from gift cards at Toys ‘R’ Us to Lake County Captains tickets to Nook eReaders. The more someone reads, the better chance they have of winning.

For more information on Mentor Library’s summer reading program, call 440-255-8811 or visit your nearest branch.