12 Days of Christmas on IndieFlix

Remember IndieFlix?

It's the website that allows you to stream thousands of independent films from festivals all around the world. And it's free with your Mentor Public Library card.

The IndieFlix catalog has independently made full-length features and shorts, as well as classic movies and even television episodes.

And it also has a lot of awesome Christmas stories you can watch, if you're feeling festive.

So without further prelude, a dozen seasonal selections from IndieFlix for your 12 Days of Christmas:

1. Don't Tell Santa You're Jewish
A young Jewish girl is worried that Santa will find out that she doesn't celebrate Christmas during her hockey league's holiday party. This animated short is all kinds of adorable. It doesn't matter if you spin the dreidel or hang the mistletoe, you'll get a kick out of this one.

2. The Santa Lie
This short from the United Kingdom is about a 6-year-old girl who discovers the truth about Santa. Needless to say, her parents are left sputtering for an explanation.

3. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
This 1964 film is unforgettable. Whether it's memorable in the good or bad sense is a matter of taste. Simply put, you can file this one under "so bad it's good." It features a bunch of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus so they have someone to give their children presents. If you snickered when you read, "Martians who kidnap Santa," then this one might be worth a look. (It is free, after all.)

4. A Jersey Christmas
A group of clerks at Xmas-O-Rama, a tumbledown Christmas shop in Jersey, are trapped working there until midnight on Christmas Eve. While the boss is at a card game in a last-ditch attempt to pay his bookies, the employees (most of whom are not Christian) struggle with their "outsider" relationship to Christmas. Fair warning: Despite having "Christmas" in its title, this is not a family film. There's way too much profanity in this one to consider it kid-friendly.

5. The Jack Benny Show, The Christmas Shopping Show
In addition to independent films and shorts, IndieFlix features a bunch of classic television shows, including their Christmas specials. In this episode of "The Jack Benny Show," Jack tries to finish all of his Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. (You'll feel immense sympathy for the poor wallet salesman.)

6. The Silver Bow
This one just might make you tear up a little. A son gets his dad, a bedraggled street performer, the perfect Christmas present.

7. The Great Rupert (A Christmas Wish)
This movie might be worth watching just to hear Jimmy Durante sing "Jingle Bells." But the real scene-stealer in this family-friendly film is an animated squirrel who saves Christmas. That's right, Jimmy Durante and a stop-motion animated squirrel. If you don't want to see that, then you don't understand Christmas.

8. Jingle Blues, Jingle Bells
The father in an atypical black British family tries to get his family through the holiday and an impending financial crisis after he loses his job. Can he keep his sanity while still giving his kids the Christmas they want?

9. The Carrot Cake Conversations
This film is more Christmas-adjacent than full-on festive (like "Die Hard" or "Batman Returns.") It is a story of four strangers--three locals and a failed American actress--who find themselves stranded in Singapore two days before Christmas, and find companionship among themselves over a plate of carrot cake.

10. Wood of Value
This Norwegian documentary follows the path of a Christmas tree from the forests of Norway, across the North Sea to the city of London. It also tells the story of the people who assist the tree on its journey.

11. Christmas Comes on a Bicycle
This short film from South Korea is both somber and sweet. A young boy tries to get the object of his affection to notice him on Christmas, but she is too distracted by her job at a family bicycle shop to even notice that it's Christmas.

12. The Beverly Hillbillies, Home for Christmas
The Clampetts fly back to their original home for the holidays, but can a fish that's used to being out of water return to the sea?

The best films and documentaries for commemorating Veterans Day

Thank you for your service.

First and foremost, thank you to our veterans from all branches of the military.

We cannot not do what we do unless we are first safe, and you are the ones who have kept us safe.

Secondly, all of Mentor Library's branches will be closed this Veteran's Day. But, with our digital services, you still have access to all sorts of movies, books, audiobooks and music even when the library's buildings are closed.

Also, IndieFlix and Hoopla have several films and documentaries that are appropriate reminders of what Veteran's Day is all about. You can stream the videos to your computer, tablet or phone for free if you have a Mentor Library card.

From IndieFlix:

1) Hooligans at War (67 min) Ages 18+

A compelling documentary that follows the United States Hooligan Platoon inside their day-to-day lives fighting in war-torn Afghanistan.

2) Coming Home (14 min) Ages 13+

This moving personal documentary was made by Vietnam War veteran Herb Sennett. I learned that if I am not able to help the people in another land, I can sure help the people around me, Herb says. Coming Home features his recollections of that time, his impressions of Vietnam and its people, and the legacy it left on his life.

3) The Negro Soldier (43 min) Ages 13+

A documentary focusing on the contributions to the American war effort by African-American soldiers.

4) Who Will Stand (112 min) Ages 13+

This feature documentary takes a close look at what happens to 21st century veterans when they return home: the joy of reconnecting with loved ones, the pain of dealing with lingering wounds.

5) Finnigan's War (54 min) Ages 13+

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, actor/filmmaker Conor Timmis sets out on a yearlong journey to honor his late grandfather and the heroes of America's forgotten war.

6) A War to End All Wars (120 min) Ages 13+

Fascinating and unique tales from World War I, narrated by UK broadcaster Robin Thompson.

From Hoopla:

7) Where Soldiers Come From (91 min) Not Rated

This documentary follows three young men from Michigan's Upper Peninsula as they receive their basic training and are sent to Afghanistan, patrolling roadways looking for improvised explosive devices. The film charts their evolving attitudes about the war and American foreign policy as they see how it works up close, as well as their sometimes tense relationships with their families, who aren't certain the young men will ever come home.

8) A Perfect Soldier (56 min) Not Rated

An extraordinary and inspiring documentary about one man's journey from child soldier to international hero. A Perfect Soldier tells the story of Aki Ra, who as a young boy was taken by the Khmer Rouge and forced to plant hundreds of landmines in the Cambodian countryside. As an adult, he has devoted his life to removing them, one landmine at a time. In 2010, he was named one of CNN's Top 10 Heroes of the Year.

9) Ken Burns: The War (seven episodes, each 120 min) TV14

Ken Burns' seven-part documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, explores the history and horror of the Second World War from an American perspective by following the fortunes of so-called ordinary men and women who become caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history. Six years in the making, this epic 14-hour film focuses on the stories of citizens from four geographically distributed American towns—Waterbury, Connecticut; Mobile, Alabama; Sacramento, California; and the tiny farming town of Luverne, Minnesota.

10) The Winning of World War II: The Road to Victory (16 episodes, each 60 min) Not Rated

Join General John Eisenhower as he retraces World War II. From the rise of Hitler to the historic battles and the eventual involvement of U.S. forces, witness the Allies' road to victory. Then, discover the top commanders who made this victory possible.

11) Crusade in the Pacific (26 episodes, each 30 min) TVPG

Experience the epic television documentary event that chronicles all the bloody land, sea and air battles for the Pacific, produced by the legendary March Of Time newsreel unit and featuring never-before-seen footage from the archives of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, as well as film captured from the Japanese government.

Here's a link to all of Mentor Library's digital services, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Also, if you're not sure how to use them, we've created videos explaining how to access Hoopla and IndieFlix. Both services are free, as long as you have a Mentor Public Library card.

Mentor Public Library adds OverDrive streaming video

Mentor Public Library has added another way for you to enjoy streaming videos.

Now anyone with a MPL card can stream videos via OverDrive to their smartphones, tablets and computers.

If you browse OverDrive’s video collection, you'll find everything from The Adventures of Paddington Bear to cooking classes to award-winning foreign films and documentaries.

You can “check out” as many as five videos at a time and stream them at their convenience for the next three days. All videos will automatically expire at the end of the lending period so there are no late fees.

You can stream video on iPhones, iPad, Androids and any other mobile device that supports HTML5. Here's link to a step-by-step explanation from MPL Librarian Mary Pelton how to use the new streaming service.

(One note: Streaming video can consume a lot of data; so, if you have a data cap on your mobile plan, you should use a Wi-Fi connection when streaming.)

By the way, this new streaming service isn't replacing Hoopla or IndieFlix. You can still stream movies and music from Hoopla and watch feature-length and short films from film festivals all around the world with IndieFlix.

And I know I've said this before but it bears repeating: All of these digital services and more are available for free with a Mentor Public Library card. 

Get your kid a library card this Christmas

Maybe you're the type of person who spends a lot of money on your kids, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, siblings et. al. around the holidays.

Maybe you're not.

Either way, the most important gift you give your kids (or grandchildren etc.) might be free. Better than free--it could probably save you money.

A Mentor Public Library card gives you access to more than 200,000 books, audiobooks, movies, video games and albums, as well as hundreds of thousands of more materials from libraries throughout the state via OhioLink.

And, if you're borrowing instead of buying, you could be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. (If you want, you can use this online calendar to tabulate how much money a library card can save you.)

And that's just a fraction of what your library card allows you to do.

You can take online classes with Learn4Life. (The classes include everything from computer programming to English as a second language to fiction writing. It's worth a look.)

You can download eBooks and eAudiobooks with OverDrive and digital magazines with Zinio.

You can download free music and even music videos from Freegal -- more than 7 million songs are available from more than 28,000 record labels, including Sony. And once you download a mp3 or mp4, you can keep it forever. Put it on your iPod, listen to it from on your phone, burn it to a CD, whatever you want. It's yours.

You can stream thousands of independent films via IndieFlix and soon you'll be able to stream even more movies, music and audiobooks to your mobile devices and computer via Hoopla.

So how do you sign up your kid for a Mentor Public Library card?

It's easy. You can do it at our circulation desk.

Adults, you're going to need a current photo ID, such as an Ohio Driver’s License or State of Ohio ID card, with your current address. If your photo ID doesn't have your current address, a personal check, utility bill, envelope or post card with a recent postmark showing your current address will do.

Meanwhile, kids need their guardian's signature to get a card. Adults assume responsibility for their children's borrowing privileges.

One quick note: If you're not an Ohio resident, you must give a $10 deposit to get a card. You will receive the deposit back once you produce an Ohio form of photo ID. Or, if you aren't moving to Ohio, you will receive your deposit back when all materials and the library card are returned.

You can also get a temporary card online that allows you to place up to five holds on items in the Mentor Public Library catalog.

If you have any questions, visit any of the Mentor Public Library's branches and you'll find people eager to help you get your library card.

And, if you already have a card, get out there and give it a workout.

For more information on Mentor Public Library and its services, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Oh, and Merry Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas on IndieFlix

Remember IndieFlix?

It's the website that allows you to stream thousands of independent films from festivals all around the world. And it's free with your Mentor Public Library card.

The IndieFlix catalog has independently made full-length features and shorts, as well as classic movies and even television episodes.

And it also has a lot of awesome Christmas stories you can watch, if you're feeling festive.

So without further prelude, a dozen seasonal selections from IndieFlix for your 12 Days of Christmas:

1. Don't Tell Santa You're Jewish
A young Jewish girl is worried that Santa will find out that she doesn't celebrate Christmas during her hockey league's holiday party. This animated short is all kinds of adorable. It doesn't matter if you spin the dreidel or hang the mistletoe, you'll get a kick out of this one.

2. The Santa Lie
This short from the United Kingdom is about a 6-year-old girl who discovers the truth about Santa. Needless to say, her parents are left sputtering for an explanation.

3. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
This 1964 film is unforgettable. Whether it's memorable in the good or bad sense is a matter of taste. Simply put, you can file this one under "so bad it's good." It features a bunch of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus so they have someone to give their children presents. If you snickered when you read, "Martians who kidnap Santa," then this one might be worth a look. (It is free, after all.)

4. A Jersey Christmas
A group of clerks at Xmas-O-Rama, a tumbledown Christmas shop in Jersey, are trapped working there until midnight on Christmas Eve. While the boss is at a card game in a last-ditch attempt to pay his bookies, the employees (most of whom are not Christian) struggle with their "outsider" relationship to Christmas. Fair warning: Despite having "Christmas" in its title, this is not a family film. There's way too much profanity in this one to consider it kid-friendly.

5. The Jack Benny Show, The Christmas Shopping Show
In addition to independent films and shorts, IndieFlix features a bunch of classic television shows, including their Christmas specials. In this episode of "The Jack Benny Show," Jack tries to finish all of his Christmas shopping in one fell swoop. (You'll feel immense sympathy for the poor wallet salesman.)

6. The Silver Bow
This one just might make you tear up a little. A son gets his dad, a bedraggled street performer, the perfect Christmas present.

7. The Great Rupert (A Christmas Wish)
This movie might be worth watching just to hear Jimmy Durante sing "Jingle Bells." But the real scene-stealer in this family-friendly film is an animated squirrel who saves Christmas. That's right, Jimmy Durante and a stop-motion animated squirrel. If you don't want to see that, then you don't understand Christmas.

8. Jingle Blues, Jingle Bells
The father in an atypical black British family tries to get his family through the holiday and an impending financial crisis after he loses his job. Can he keep his sanity while still giving his kids the Christmas they want?

9. The Carrot Cake Conversations
This film is more Christmas-adjacent than full-on festive (like "Die Hard" or "Batman Returns.") It is a story of four strangers--three locals and a failed American actress--who find themselves stranded in Singapore two days before Christmas, and find companionship among themselves over a plate of carrot cake.

10. Wood of Value
This Norwegian documentary follows the path of a Christmas tree from the forests of Norway, across the North Sea to the city of London. It also tells the story of the people who assist the tree on its journey.

11. Christmas Comes on a Bicycle
This short film from South Korea is both somber and sweet. A young boy tries to get the object of his affection to notice him on Christmas, but she is too distracted by her job at a family bicycle shop to even notice that it's Christmas.

12. The Beverly Hillbillies, Home for Christmas
The Clampetts fly back to their original home for the holidays, but can a fish that's used to being out of water return to the sea?

Commemorating Veterans Day at IndieFlix

Mentor Public Library is closed today in honor of Veterans Day; but, like I've said before, you still have access to all sorts of movies, books and music even when the library's buildings are closed.

Specifically, IndieFlix has several films and documentaries that are appropriate reminders of what today is all about. You can stream the videos to your computer, tablet or phone for free with a library card.

They include:

1) Coming Home (14 min) Ages 13+
This moving personal documentary was made by Vietnam War veteran Herb Sennett. I learned that if I am not able to help the people in another land, I can sure help the people around me, Herb says. Coming Home features his recollections of that time, his impressions of Vietnam and its people, and the legacy it left on his life.

2) December 7th: the Pearl Harbor Story (82 min) All ages
December 7th, 1941. No American will ever forget this Sunday morning in Hawaii. This restored, full-length version of the film stars Walter Huston as Uncle Sam and is set in Honolulu on the day before the Japanese attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor, the battle that sent the U.S. into World War II, is vividly illustrated as only Hollywood can do.

3) Who Will Stand (112 min) Ages 13+
This feature documentary takes a close look at what happens to 21st century veterans when they return home: the joy of reconnecting with loved ones, the pain of dealing with lingering wounds.

4) A War to End All Wars (120 min) Ages 13+
Fascinating and unique tales from World War I, narrated by UK broadcaster Robin Thompson.

Here's a list of other digital services that are also available 24/7--even when the library's buildings are closed.

Bring the Film Festival to You With IndieFlix

Let's say you want to watch I Love Sarah Jane, but you can't afford a trip to the Sundance Film Festival.

(If you haven't heard of Sarah Jane, it's a neat short film about 13-year-old named Jimbo with a crush. Also, there are zombies. It's one of my favorite entries in the post-apocalyptic, teens-with-bows-and-arrows oeuvre.)

Meet Jimbo.

So what can you do without a ticket to Park City, Utah?

Well, if you have a Mentor Public Library card, you can watch it for free on IndieFlix.

Not just Sarah Jane either. You can watch hundreds of shorts and feature-length films from cinematic festivals all around the world. Sundance, Cannes, places you can't imagine -- their films are available to you for free.

You can stream as many of them as you want on your computer, smartphone or tablet. And all you need is your library card.

IndieFlix also has classic films too.

Like zombies? After you finish watching Sarah Jane, check out George Romero's Night of the Living Dead -- one of the scariest and most influential movies ever made. IndieFlix also has classics like Nosferatu, The Little Shop of Horrors and The Invisible Man if you're putting together a Halloween playlist.

If you fancy yourself a cinephile, you owe it to yourself to check out IndieFlix. If you don't consider yourself a movie buff, you should still give IndieFlix a look. You'll still find something you love -- something you wouldn't find on NetFlix or YouTube.

No excuses: We even made a step-by-step video, explaining how to sign up for and navigate IndieFlix.

So catch a short during your lunch break. Watch a movie with your family when you get home. (I guess you could even watch a movie during your lunch break if your boss doesn't care about that sort of thing.)

But you should check out IndieFlix. You have not idea what you're missing until you look.

If you prefer streaming video to downloading movies or checking out DVDS, you can also check out Hoopla for more mainstream offerings. They have music too. And it's all free with your Mentor Public Library card.

Mentor Library offers streaming movies, music and audiobooks with Hoopla

If you like streaming services like NetFlix, YouTube or Spotify, then Mentor Public Library just signed up for a service that should make you very happy.

It's called Hoopla, and it allows patrons to stream more than 300,000 movies, TV episodes, audiobooks and music albums to their smartphones, tablets and computers.

It's also free and lets you borrow media without even setting foot in a library.

All you need is a library card to use it.

Hoopla is fantastic with several smartphones and tablets and is compatible with:

• any iPhone 3G or newer
• iPad 2 or newer
• iPad mini 
• iPod Touch 4 or newer
• any Android 4.0 and above. 

To use Hoopla, you need only download its app from the Apple or Android store.

If you prefer to stream onto your computer, you can visit www.hoopladigital.com and the site offers all the same videos, music and audiobooks as the app. The Hoopla web site is compatible with browsers Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Once the app is downloaded (or you're on the Hoopla web site,) you only need to provide an email address and your library card number. Then you can browse and borrow from Hoopla’s extensive library and watch or listen wherever they are.

If any of that sounded confusing, MPL Librarian Mary Pelton made a video that walks you through the sign-up process.

On Hoopla, you can borrow a video for three days, a music album for seven and an audiobook for 21 days.

Using cloud computing, you can even borrow titles with your home computer, begin watching on a tablet and resume watching with your smartphone – anywhere there’s an Internet connection.

If you are going somewhere without an Internet connection, then you can download a title using the Hoopla app and watch or listen to it later. (For DRM reasons, downloading is only available on the app – not on Internet browsers.)

MPL patrons can borrow up to five items per month using Hoopla.

In addition to Hoopla, Mentor Public Library also offers several other digital services. You can stream independent films from festivals around the globe using IndieFlix, you can download mp3s using Freegal, borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks using OverDrive, take online classes with Learn4Life or borrow digital versions of magazines using Zinio.

You also have access to dozens of databases with information on topics from auto repair to local history to case law.

And -- once again, it should be noted -- all of these services are free with a Mentor Public Library card.

Why You Should Have a Library Card

All a library card needs to be good is a little exercise.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. And I encourage anybody who doesn't have a library card to get one. But just as important, if you already have a library card -- use it.

A card gives you access to the more than 200,000 books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and video games in the Mentor Public Library's collection.

But that's just a fraction of what your library card allows you to do.

You can take online classes with Learn4Life. (The classes include everything from computer programming to English as a second language to fiction writing. It's worth a look.)

You can download eBooks and eAudiobooks with OverDrive and digital magazines with Zinio.

You can download free music and even music videos from Freegal -- more than 7 million songs are available from more than 28,000 record labels, including Sony. And once you download a mp3 or mp4, you can keep it forever. Put it on your iPod, listen to it from on your phone, burn it to a CD, whatever you want. It's yours.

You can stream thousands of independent films via IndieFlix and soon you'll be able to stream even more movies, music and audiobooks to your mobile devices and computer via Hoopla.

You can still borrow books, movies and music from libraries all around the state using OhioLINK.

And your card also gives you access to dozens of databases with information on topics from auto repair to local history to case law.

Most importantly, a library card -- and everything that comes with it -- is free.

So how do you sign up for a Mentor Public Library card?

It's easy. You can do it at our circulation desk.

Adults, you're going to need a current photo ID, such as an Ohio Driver’s License or State of Ohio ID card, with your current address. If your photo ID doesn't have your current address, a personal check, utility bill, envelope or post card with a recent postmark showing your current address will do.

Meanwhile, kids need their guardian's signature to get a card. Adults assume responsibility for their children's borrowing privileges.

One quick note: If you're not an Ohio resident, you must give a $10 deposit to get a card. You will receive the deposit back once you produce an Ohio form of photo ID. Or, if you aren't moving to Ohio, you will receive your deposit back when all materials and the library card are returned.

You can also get a temporary card online that allows you to place up to five holds on items in the Mentor Public Library catalog.

If you have any questions, visit any of the Mentor Public Library's branches and you'll find people eager to help you get your library card.

And, if you already have a card, get out there and give it a workout.

For more information on Mentor Public Library and its services, visit www.mentorpl.org.

The Library's Never Closed... Even When It's Closed

You and I are talking in this scenario.

I start by saying, "The Mentor Public Library is like Oscar the Grouch's eyes. Neither ever close."

But you say, "What do you mean the library never closes? Aren't you closed this Sunday and Monday for Memorial Day?"

Then, I say, "Sure, the buildings may be closed. But there's still a ton you can do with your library card -- download music and eBooks, watch indie films and take a class online -- even if all the branches are locked."

And you say, "Tell me more."

"It's all on our web site," I say. "You can still check out eBooks onto your tablets, smartphones, eReaders and laptops using Overdrive. They include books by best-selling authors like Janet Evanovich, James Patterson and Nicholas Sparks. You can even check out that new Dan Brown book everyone's talking about. By the way, this also includes audiobooks that you can load onto your mp3 players."

• Here's a link with step-by-step instructions on how to download eBooks and mp3 files of audiobooks onto your tablets, smartphones, Apple gizmos, laptops et. al.

Next you ask, "Didn't you say something about music?"

And I reply, "Yes, I did. Free music. All you need is a Mentor Public Library card and you can use Freegal to download music from hundreds of artists including Pink, Beyonce and Kenny Chesney. You can download up to three mp3s per week. And they're yours to keep -- load them on your iPod, burn them on CD, play them on loop ad infinitum -- forever. For free."

So you narrow your eyes and say, "But what if I want to watch a movie? I can't check out a movie if the branches are closed."

I smirk and say, "But you can still check out full-length and short indie films from festivals all around the world. (Seriously, no hyperbole, every continent besides Antarctica. I don't know if they have a film festival there yet.) It's called Indieflix. They have thousands of films that you can watch on your computer and it's free if you have a Mentor Public Library card."

"What if I want a magazine?" you ask. "How do I check out a magazine if you're closed?"

"It's called Zinio. It lets you check out digital versions dozens of magazines from Smithsonian to Cosmopolitan to Newsweek to Marie Claire to ESPN..."

"Let me guess," you interrupt. "All I need is a library card."

"That's it," I say, nodding. "It's a free service to anyone with a Mentor Public Library card."

You seem less skeptical now. So you raise your eyebrow and ask, "You talked about taking classes online through the library. How do I do that?"

"I love this service," I say. "It's called Ed2Go. Having a Mentor Public Library card gives you access to hundreds of online courses -- from Accounting & Finance to Writing & Publishing -- for free. Each course runs for six weeks and they're run by expert instructors."

"And I can take the course from home?" you ask.

"From home, from the coffee shoppe, from your kids' soccer practice, wherever."

"Even when the library's closed," you say.

And I smile because you've finally gotten it.

• Here's a step-by-step breakdown on how to use Ed2Go.

Then I say, "What about Breakfast at Tiffany's."

And you say, "I think I remember that film."

Then I say, "I think we both kind of liked it..."

And you say, "Never end on a non sequitur."

Here's a pretty concise breakdown of all the online services and digital materials we offer -- even when the buildings are closed.