Mentor Library offering more ebooks than ever

Get even more ebooks from Mentor Library with 3M Cloud Library, our newest digital service.

Mentor Public Library is now offering more ebooks than ever with its newest digital service, 3M Cloud Library.

You can check out ebooks and audiobooks from 3M by bestselling authors like James Patterson, Adriana Trigiani, Aziz Ansari, Rainbow Rowell and more onto your Nooks, Kindle Fires, tablets, smartphones and even computers.

And, just the other books in the library’s collection, you can borrow them for free.

We'll have a Cloud Library Launch Party from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at our Main Branch. Patrons who try out 3M will receive door prizes while supplies last.

They will also be entered into a raffle to win a Nook glowlight.

We also offer several other free digital services, including OverDrive, which allows patrons to check out eBooks, audiobooks and even stream video.

Additionally, we have online services for checking out magazines online (Zinio,) downloading music (Freegal,) streaming video and music (Hoopla,) and trying out online courses on everything from art to accounting (Gale Courses.)

Tech-savvy people—or, rather, patrons who would like to become more tech savvy—can also come to our New Technology for the Holidays program, which begins at 6:30 p.m. also on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at our Main Branch.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System is bringing out its mobile Tech Lab with new gadgets, including wearable technology and even a drone, that people may consider getting others or themselves this holiday season.

If someone wants to learn how to use 3M Cloud Library or see how a drone works, they are welcome to come to our Main Branch on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Digital Bookmobile coming to Mentor Library

Remember the old bookmobiles? They would come to your neck of the woods and you could check out a book or two?

The OverDrive Digital Bookmobile is kind of like that... except it's going to show you how you can download as many eBooks as you want from Mentor Public Library for free whenever you like.

It will also show you how to stream video via OverDrive to your computers, phones and devices—once again, for free, as long as you have a Mentor Library card.

You can even test out different kinds of tablets, smart phones and eReaders in the Digital Bookmobile's gadget gallery.

At 74-feet long, this bookmobile is also a little bit bigger than its predecessor. But it takes an 18-wheel tractor-trailer to house all this cool stuff.

You can check out OverDrive's Digital Bookmobile (and all of Mentor Public Library's digital services) when it visits from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at our Main Branch.

The vehicle is equipped with Internet-connected PCs, high-definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players, all of which help you explore MPL’s digital services.

It doesn't matter if you use a Kindle, iPad, Nook, smartphone or even your computer. You can use it to stream video or music, download songs, read your favorite magazine or check out a book from Mentor Library.

Come by MPL's Main Branch Tuesday, check the Digital Bookmobile out and learn how you can get even more out of your library card.

Learning how to use that new eReader

Did you get an eReader for Christmas or Hanukkah but have no idea to use it?

Is your tablet pretty much a pricey paperweight until you figure out how to use it?

That's OK. We can help you turn your digital doodad into a repository for the books, magazines and even movies you love.

The Mentor Public Library is holding a series of free tutorials in January where we'll show you how to get the most out of your Kindles, Nooks, tablets, smartphones, Kobos or any other kind of eReader device.

And—I can't stress this enough—these classes are free and open to everyone.

All the classes are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Garfield Room of our library's Main Branch. You can register for them on the library's website or by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

The first session is Wednesday, Jan. 15. It's specifically for people with Nooks, Kobos and other types of eReaders but not Kindles, Kindle Fires, smartphones or tablets. If you want to learn how to download books to your Nook, this session is for you.

The second session is Thursday, Jan. 16. It's for people who want to learn how to check out library eBooks, audiobooks and other materials onto their tablets (including iPads) and smartphones.

The final session is Saturday, Jan. 18; and it's specifically for those with Kindles and Kindle Fires. Learn how to check out eBooks and more on your new eReader.

Mentor Public Library offers a lot of online services that are always available, even when our buildings are closed; and you can use them from the comfort of your own home.

Once you know how to do it, you'll be able to check out library eBooks, stream audiobooks and even watch movies (depending on what kind of device you use) on your eReader, smartphone or tablet.

No excuses: You're never too old or old-fashioned (or too young, for that matter,) to learn something new.

If you're intimidated by your new eReader, bring it to the library and one of our reference librarians will show you how to get the most out of it.

Besides, your eReader is more valuable as an eReader than it is as a paperweight.