Get all the Christmas music you need with Hoopla & your MPL card

Do you need some Christmas music to set the mood for your all-day gift-wrapping marathon?

We have you covered.

With Hoopla and your Mentor Library card, you can stream up to 10 different albums for free each month. And they have an enormous catalog of Christmas music from which you can choose.

Here are some of your favorites, but feel free to browse around the Hoopla site and see what they have.

(By the way, if you don’t know how to use Hoopla, you can check out this video tutorial that one of our librarians made.)

1. White Christmas (40 Unforgettable Classics)

There are hundreds of Christmas compilations with different legends singing different standards. This is one of the best. You want Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday? You want Peggy Lee and Elvis? You want "White Christmas" and "Ave Maria?" This album has you covered—40 classics from the artists you want to hear sing them.

2. The Ultimate Motown Christmas

The Jackson 5 singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Stevie Wonder singing "Ave Maria," The Supremes singing "Joy to the World," Four Tops, Johnny Gill, Marvin Gaye, even the Funk Brothers playing "Winter Wonderland"—after all, it's not Christmas without some soul. Speaking of which,Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle also have Christmas albums you can stream via Hoopla.

3. Bing Crosby Sings Christmas Songs

For a generation, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the Christmas song, but Bing has more classics than that in his catalog. Hear him sing everything from "Adeste Fideles" to "The Christmas Song." And if you're in the mood for a Rat Pack Christmas, check out holiday albums from Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin and the whole gang.

4. Muppet Christmas Carol: Special Edition

I'm not saying the Muppets own Christmas, but you could make a pretty awesome holiday playlist just using Muppets soundtracks.

5. A Charlie Brown Christmas

The only downside to listening to Vince Guaraldi's classic soundtrack is you won't be able to get "Linus and Lucy" out of your head for a couple of days. You're probably humming it already. If you're looking for other kid-friendly Christmas albums, try Veggie Tales' A Very Veggie Christmas.

6. Christmastime in Larryland

Meanwhile, this one's definitely not for the kids. But sometimes you just want to hear Larry the Cable Guy fart "Jingle Bells." If you need more blue-collar Christmas, Bill Engvall has you covered.

7. Christmas with the Ray Brown Trio

Ray Brown's one of the greatest jazz bassists of all time, and this album's perfect for jazz fans who will snap if they hear "Run, Run Rudolph" one more time. For more Christmas jazz, check out Ray Brown's old bandmate Oscar Peterson.

8. This Is Christmas (Elvis Presley Performing Timeless Christmas Classics)

If Bing owns "White Christmas," then nobody sang "Blue Christmas" like the King. He also has a beautiful version of "Peace in the Valley."

9. Bach: Advent & Christmas Cantatas

For lovers of classical music or for those who need background music during Christmas dinner. More classical Christmas: The Royal Philharmonic take on seasonal standards.

10. Christmas Grass Too

A sweet compilation of bluegrass Christmas songs that includes Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, the Larkins and more. For more Christmas country, try Alan Jackson's Let It Be Christmas.

11. Phineas and Ferb Holiday Favorites

"I Really Don't Hate Christmas" is probably my favorite Christmas song. Thank you, Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

12. An All-4-One Christmas

What? Sometimes, you just want a New Jack Swing Christmas.

Hoopla also streams video. Check out 12 Christmas specials you can watch on Hoopla right now for free if you have a Mentor Library card.

Kids can rock the mic at Mentor Public Library

It's hard not to smile during the Rock the Mic Club at Mentor Public Library.

Sometimes it's singing or stand-up or sketch comedy. You never know what you're going to get with our Rock the Mic Club.

On the second Monday of the month, we open the mic up to the kids at our Main Branch.

They can tell jokes, play an instrument, sing, practice for a school report, or perform a monologue.

Meanwhile, they build self-esteem and confidence while having fun.

Whether your child loves to perform or is uncomfortable in front of crowds, he or she is welcome at our Rock the Mic Club.

The club's next meeting is at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 14, at Mentor Library's Main Branch. If you wish to register your child for it, you can sign them up on our website or by calling 440-255-8811 ext. 221.

The kids try their hands at improv during the Rock the Mic Club.

Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater to MPL's Teen Holiday Party

Forget a silent night. It's party time!

Teens can win free movie tickets for rocking their ugliest Christmas sweater to our Teen Holiday Party at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12, at our Main Branch.

You can also decorate cookies, craft ornaments from duct tape and enjoy some pizza. (Because what's a party without pizza?)

The party is free and open to everyone in seventh through 12th grade. However, we do ask that you register beforehand.

You can sign up on our website or by calling us at (440) 255-8811 ext. 215.

See you at the party.

American Girl Book Club meeting newest American Girl, Mary Ellen

Our American Girl Book Club will meet two American Girls in January: Kaya and the newest American Girl, Maryellen.

Our American Girl Book Club will have a busy new year. They're meeting two American Girls this January.

Usually our book club meets a new girl each month. First they, talk about their book. Then they make a craft that ties into the book. They've made everything from kites to rag dolls to dreamcatchers.

In January, they'll meet Kaya their regular meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at our Main Branch.

Then, we're having a special program for the newest American Girl, Maryellen, on Saturday, Jan. 23. Maryellen's a 1950s girl who follows her heart instead of the crowd.

You can get to know her better during our Meet Maryellen party. There'll be crafts, games and, of course, a sock hop!

Both the American Girl Book Club and Meet Maryellen party are open to kids from six to 12 years old. You don't need to be a member of the book club to come to the party.

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

Addie makes a poncho for her doll during the American Girl Book Club meeting at Mentor Public Library.

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

Holiday Story Times & Programs at Mentor Public Library

Sienna and her mom sing along during a Deck the Halls story time at Mentor Library.

It's a very special time of year. It's time for peace on earth, decking the halls and stocking stuffing.

And, at Mentor Public Library, it's also story time!

We are hosting special story times throughout December at all of our branches to celebrate the season.

We have Deck the Halls story times with Christmas stories, songs and crafts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, and Wednesday, Dec. 16, at our Main Branch.

Nico smiles during a holiday singalong.

That's just the beginning. We have:

• a special story about the tradition of tinsel at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at our Main Branch. Kids will also make a fun, take-home craft and enjoy cocoa and cookies.
• our annual Headlands holiday party at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. Kids can listen to Christmas stories, sing songs and make crafts at our Headlands Branch.
• Kids from three to seven can take a trip on the Polar Express with us on Monday, Dec. 21, at our Main Branch.
• We'll also have a special Holiday Rhyme Time for families on Tuesday, Dec. 22, at our Lake Branch.



Kids decorate cookies during our Deck the Halls story time.

It's not just young kids who get to have all the fun either. We're hosting a holiday party for teens at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at our Main Branch. They'll be cookies, pizza and the ugliest Christmas sweater wins a prize!

All of these programs are free, though some of them require registration beforehand. You can sign up on our online event calendar or by calling the library.

Happy Holidays!

When you get caught with frosting face...

For more photos from MPL programs, visit our Facebook page.

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.

Season's Readings: 12 Christmas Stories

With respect to the 12 days of Christmas, here are a dozen seasonal stories to see you through your yuletide.

1. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

If you like Sedaris and his droll sense of humor, you probably already consider this collection of short stories a classic. If you don't like Sedaris, I don't know if there's anything in here that will change your mind. But if you haven't read any Sedaris, then "SantaLand Diaries"—the story of a 33-year-old man working as an elf at SantaLand—is a great point of entry.

2. A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley

Haley's best known as the author of Roots and the ghostwriter of Malcolm X's autobiography. That sort of resume doesn't immediately make one think of Christmas. However, A Different Kind of Christmas is true to both the season and Haley. It tells the story of a young man who's trying to help one of his father's slaves escape on Christmas Eve.

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

You know this one: stingy lender, hobbled child, three ghosts, humbug. Even if you've seen a half-dozen movie versions of this story, you should still read the book. It has some of Dickens' finest writing. (And, if you're looking for a movie version, my personal favorite is the Muppets.)

4. A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

Let's be honest. It's easy to make Christmas stories (especially those involving children) saccharine. But this story about a 7-year-old boy and an elderly woman, who is also his best friend, hits the sweet spot. It's a beautiful rumination on odd friendships and growing up.

5. Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Even if you don't know Macomber by name, you probably still know her stories. She's responsible for the stories behind several Hallmark films. If you enjoy Hallmark films, you'll love Macomber's books. If you don't, there's always Holidays on Ice.

6. Matchless by Gregory Maguire

Maguire—the writer behind Wicked and Confessions of an Ugly Step-Sister—gives his version of the Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl." Fair warning: You'll probably cry when you read this (but you already know that if you're familiar with the original.)

7. You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs

Burroughs was on his sixth memoir by the time he wrote You Better Not Cry. That's even more than Winston Churchill. You would think Burroughs would be out of material by now, but his Christmas-tinged recollections range from sweet to sad and never miss their mark.

8. Winter Dream by Richard Paul Evans

You were expecting The Christmas Box, right? That's his stadium hit, Evans' "Layla" or "Stairway to Heaven." But Evans has written a lot of seasonally appropriate tomes. This one incorporates the Old Testament story of Joseph and his prophetic dreams and gives it a modern retelling.

9. Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

If your child likes this holiday classic, then he or she will love our special Polar Express story time on Monday, Dec. 21.

10. Decked With Holly by Marni Bates

This YA book about a girl pretending to be fauxmantically involved with a mega-popular rock star is over the top in all the right ways. Teens who liked Bates' Awkward will get a kick out of Holly too.

11. Santa & Pete by Christopher Moore & Pamela Johnson

Did you know that Santa used to have an African accomplice named Pete? You know about the elves and Rudolph; but, somehow, Santa's most important helper has disappeared in the annals of time. (If you liked Moore's story about Jesus' forgotten friend Biff, then you'll get a kick out of this too.)

12. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Most people think the instance where the Grinch's heart grows three sizes is a nice moment. But cardiomegaly can lead to congestive heart failure. It may have even contributed to Secretariat's death.

That aside, this book is pretty much perfect. Happy readings!